v  4T 


m 


4** 


ft'-«lb>w* 


•  -     ^*  f 


r*>    -  rm 


.  'Oi 


«r^j*? 


eg 


W    ^WBrr'  "'KT 


u 


*!h> 


-/  /  -V 


V  > 


THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY, 

Princeton,  N.  J. 


te 


** 


Jjf      Bequeathed  by  the  Hon.  E.  BOUDINOT,  LL.D.     J 
*#  #  |  ;fy####  #<»#  #  *###***#* 

j)  Clise,    Djyision   M- 

j:  «/*«//,  Sec-  ,  (j>  ■*. 

(         Book,,,  j 

1  No.  j 


bCTs- 


*.*■ 


HIE 


CONSTITUTION 


AND 


ASSOCIATE  STATUTES 


OF  THE 


THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


IN 


AXDOVER; 


WITH  A  SKETCH  OF  ITS  RISE  AND  PROGRESS. 


PUBLISHED  BY  ORDER  OF  THE  TRUSTEE*. 


BOSTON  ; 

PUBLISHED  BY  FARRAND,  MALLORY,  AND  CO 

SUFFOLK  BUILDINGS,  STATE  STREET. 


Belcher  and  Armstrong,  Printers. 

1808. 


HISTORIC    SKETCH, 

exhibited  at.  the  opening  of  the  theological 
institution. 

:by  eliphalet  pearson,  ll.d. 


1  O  gratify  a  common  and  salutary  principle  of  hu- 
man nature,  it  has  been  thought  proper  to  introduce 
the  communications  of  the  day  with  a  brief  account  of 
the  rise,  progress,  and  object  of  the  Institution,  now  to 
be  organized.  To  arrive  at  its  origin,  it  must  be  trac- 
ed back  to  the  pious  Institution,  more  than  thirty  years 
since  founded  in  this  place  by  the  united  liberality  of  two 
brothers,  the  Hon.  Samuel  and  the  Hon.  John  Phillips, 
sons  6f  the  first  Minister  of  this  Parish.  In  the  Consti- 
tution of  their  Academy  they  expressly  declare  "  that 
"  the  Jirst  and  principal  object  of  their  Institution  is  the 
"promotion  of  true  Piety  and  Virtue."  They 
have  also  accordingly  made  it  the  duty  of  the  princi- 
pal Instructor,  "as  the  age  and  capacities  of  theschol- 
"  ars  will  admit,  not  only  to  instruct  and  establish  them 
"  in  the  truth  of  Christianity,  but  also  to  inculcate  upon 
u  them  the  great  and  important  doctrines  and  duties  of 
"  our  holy  religion."  In  promotion  of  the  same  sub- 
lime object  the  Hon.  John  Phillips  farther  gave  in  the 
year  1789,  the  generous  sum  of  $20,000,  "for  the 
"  virtuous  and  pious  education  of  youth  of  genius  and 
serious  disposition"  in  this  Academy.      To  complete 


his  liberality,  in  his  last  Will  he  bequeathed  to  the  Acad- 
emy in  Exeter,  of  which  he  was  sole  Founder,  two 
thirds  and  to  the  Academy  in  this  town  one  third  of  the 
residue  of  all  his  Estate,  "  for  the  benefit,"  as  his  ex- 
pression is,  "  more  especially  of  charity  scholars,  such 
"  as  may  be  of  excelling  genius,  and  of  good  moral 
"  character,  preferring  the  hopefully  pious  ;  and  such  of 
"these, who  are  designed  to  be  employed  in  the  great 
"  and  good  work  of  the  gospel  ministry,  having  acquir- 
"  ed  the  most  useful  human  literature  in  either  of  these 
"  Academies  or  other  Seminaries,  may  be  assisted  in  the 
"  study  of  Divinity  (if  a  Theological  Professor  is  not 
"  employed  in  either  of  the  two  forementioned  Acade- 
"  mies)  under  the  direction  of  some  eminent  Calvinis- 
"  tic  Minister  of  the  gospel,  until  such  time,  as  an  able, 
il  pious,  and  orthodox  Instructor  shall,  at  least  in  part, 
"  be  supported  in  one  or  both  these  Academies,  as  a 
"  Professor  of  Divinity  ;  by  whom  they  may  be  taught 
"  the  important  principles  and  distinguishing  tenets  of 
"  our  holy  Christian  religion."  To  this  Fund  the  Hon. 
William  Phillips,  late  of  Boston,  also  bequeathed 
S4000  for  the  same  pious  design. 

In  the  special  appropriation  of  this  Fund  every  one 
must  remark  the  expansion  of  the  great  object  of  the 
Founders  of  the  Academy,  and  its  intimate  connexion 
ivith  the  Theological  Institution  now  established ;  and, 
agreeably  to  the  principal  design  of  the  Founders  and  to 
the  express  object  of  this  Fund,  a  considerable  number 
of  theological  Students,  now  settled  in  the  ministry, 
have  been  supported  on  this  Foundation,  while  prose- 


cuting  their  studies  under  the  direction  of  the  Clergy- 
man of  this  place. 

On  a  well  grounded  expectation  of  liberal  additions 
to  their  theological  fund,  the  Trustees  in  June  1807 
applied  to  the  General  Court,  to  enlarge  their  power  of 
holding  estate  and  obtained  the  following  Act. 

"  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  ;  Whereas  the 
"  Trustees  of  Phillips  Academy  have  petitioned  this 
"  Court  for  liberty  to  receive  and  hold  donations  of 
"  charitably  disposed  persons,  for  the  purpose  of  a  The- 
"  ological  Institution,  and  in  furtherance  of  the  designs 
"  of  the  pious  Founders  and  Benefactors  of  said  Acade- 
"  my ;  and,  whereas  it  is  reasonable,  that  the  prayer 
"  should  be  granted  ; 

"  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre- 
"  sentatives,  in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the 
"  authority  of  the  same,  that  the  said  Trustees  of  Phil- 
"  lips  Academy  be,  and  they  are  hereby  impowered  to 
"  receive,  purchase,  and  hold,  for  the  purposes  afore  - 
"said,  real  and  personal  estate,  the  annual  income 
"  whereof  shall  not  exceed  85000,  in  addition  to  what 
"  they  are  now  allowed  by  law  to  hold  ;  provided  the 
"  income  of  the  said  real  and  personal  estate  be  always 
"applied  to  said  objects,  agreeably  to  the  will  of 
"the  Donors,  if  consistent  with  the  original  design  of 
"  the  Founders  of  the  said  Academy." 

The  expectation,  which  gave  rise  to  this  enlargement 
of  power,  we  now  see  fulfilled  in  the  broad  foundation, 
since  laid  for  the  support  oi  theological  Professors  and 
Students  in  this  Seminary. 


6 

Such,  as  we  have  now  represented,  is  the  connexion 
between  Phillips  Academy  and  the  Theological  Institu- 
tion, whose  birth  we  this  day  celebrate  ;  and  justice  as 
well,  as  gratitude,  requires  us  to  recognize  the  former, 
as  the  radix  of  the  latter,  and  as  the  embryo  of  its  fu- 
ture manhood. 

But,  while  we  trace  back  the  new  Institution  to  the 
pious  benevolence  of  men  now  in  Heaven  ;    we  must 
not,  we  cannot  fail  to  acknowledge  the  immeasurable 
goodness  of  God   in  raising  up  others  to  enlarge  and 
perfect,  what  they  had  begun.     It  is  indeed  the  Lord's 
doings  and  it  is  marvellous  in  our  eyes.     That  so  ma- 
ny persons,  in  different  sections  of  the  community, 
should  at  the  same  period,  and  without  communication, 
be  impressed  with  the  necessity  of  such  an  Institution, 
an  Institution  unnamed  in  the  annals  of  this  country 
and  of  Europe ;  and  that  men,  possessing  the  ability,  per- 
sonally unknown  to  each  other,  should  at  the  same  mo- 
ment be  moved,  with  almost  unprecedented  liberality, 
to  devote  their  property  to  the  education  of  a  pious  and 
learned  ministry,  must  compel,  one  would  think,  even 
atheism  itself  to  acknowledge  that  there  is  a  God  in 
heaven,  who  ruleth  among  the  children  of  men.     Those 
especially,  whose  situation  and  agency  have  furnished 
the  best  opportunity  of  observing  the  many  striking 
proofs  of  the  interposing,  guiding,  and  controlling  hand 
of  divine  Providence  in  the  formation  of  this  Institu- 
tion, have  had  abundant  cause  to  exclaim,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  pious  gratitude,  "  Not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  not 
l<  unto  us,  but  unto  thy  name  give  glory." 


As  the  nature  and  object  of  the  Institution,  togeth- 
er with  the  motives,  views,  and  expectations  of  the 
Founders,  will  fully  appear  from  their  respective  Stat- 
utes, now  to  be  read ;  it  is  unnecessary  to  enlarge  on 
these  topics.  I  shall  only  observe  that,  as  the  Semi- 
nary originated  in  a  conviction  of  the  importance  of  a 
learned  and  evangelical  ministry  ;  so  its  primary  object 
is  to  lay  such  a  foundation  of  sacred  literature,  as  will 
best  support  and  protect  the  superstructure  of  gospel 
truth  against  the  open  assaults  and  secret  machinations 
of  atheism,  infidelity,  and  error.  Not  the  peculiarities 
of  any  sect  or  party,  but  the  great  -system  of  revealed 
truth,  contained  in  the  Bible,  avowed  by  the  Reformers, 
embraced  by  our  Fore-fathers,  and  expressed  in  the  As- 
sembly's catechism ;  it  will  be  the  duty  of  the  Profes- 
sors to  illustrate  and  maintain  ;  as  must  be  evident  from 
the  creed,  which  they  are  required  to  subscribe.  Nor 
will  any  force  or  influence,  but  that  of  tntth,be  employ- 
ed with  the  Students,  to  gain  their  assent  to  any  system 
or  doctrine.  And  surely  no  man  of  understanding  and 
information  can  with  propriety  denominate  that  system 
of  Christian  doctrine  sectarian,  which,  as  appears  from 
the  Harmony  of  Confessions,  has  been  received  and 
professed  by  all  Protestant  Churches  in  Europe ;  which 
was  the  faith  of  the  first  settlers  of  this  country,  and  is 
still  the  faith  of  the  great  body  of  their  pious  descend- 
ants. It  is  true  indeed,  that  some  difference  in  opinion 
and  practice,  relative  to  discipline,  rites,  and  modes  of 
worship,  early  took  place  among  Protestants  in  Europe 
as  well,  as  in  this  country ;  which  has  given  rise  to  sev- 
eral denominations  of  Christians.      Still  however  the 


8 

great  doctrines  of  the  reformation  continue  to  consti- 
tute the  public  creed  of  our  Churches  and  the  faith  of 
most  private  Christians.     If  it  be  true,  that  some  indi- 
viduals, who  call  themselves  Christians,  have  renounc- 
ed the  doctrines  of  the  reformation  in  general,  or  any 
cardinal  doctrine  in  particular;    such  individuals,  not 
the  body  of  Christians,  still  embracing  those  doctrines, 
merit  the  epithet  sectarian.      These  observations  are 
made,  not  to  censure  any,    who  on  some  points  may 
think  differently  from  us ;  but  merely  to  exhibit  this 
infant  Seminary  in  its  proper  attitude  and  true  light ; 
and  to  guard  against  those  misapprehensions  and  fears, 
which  it  is  natural  even  for  honest  and  serious  minds 
to  entertain,  concerning  an  Institution  so  novel  and  so 
interesting.     Conscious,    that  our  object  is  to  defend 
and  disseminate   the  pure  gospel  of  Christ,  we  are  soli- 
citous, that  so  good  a  cause  may  not  suffer  from  preju- 
dice, and  that  through  us  divine  truth  receive  no  detri- 
ment.    Of  the  unbelieving  and  fearful  we  request,  that 
they  judge  nothing  before  the  time  ;  and,  when  that  ar- 
rives, that  we  may  be  judged  according  to  our  works. 
The  tree  is  known  by  its  fruit.     Till  that  is  formed 
and  matured,  the  wise  man  will  suspend  his  judgment 
and  his  fears,  and  the  man  of  real  candor  will  hope  the 
best. 

In  tracinsr  the  origin  of  the  new  Institution  the  ven- 
erable  Founders  of  the  Academy,  which  bears  their 
name,  have  arisen  to  our  view  in  grateful  remembrance; 
but  even  the  tribute  of  justice  has  not  been  paid  to  the 
prime  mover  as  well,  as  active  patron  of  that  Seminary. 
Let  it  then  for  once  be  publicly  announced,  and  this 


without  diminishing  the  merit  of  the  generous  Found- 
ers, that  to  the  sagacious,  originating,  and  disinterest- 
ed mind  of  the  late  patriotic  Lieut.  Governor  Phillips, 
is  the  world  indebted  for  the  conception  of  an  Institu- 
tion, from  which  so  many  blessings  have  already  flow- 
ed to  the  community. 

What   in   this  connexion  merits  particular  notice, 
because    in   this    country     without    a    parallel,    this 
gentleman   at    the  early  age    of   twenty-one,  instead 
of  plans  for  personal  wealth  and  aggrandizes  ^nt,  was 
planning  the  Constitution  of  yonder  Academy,  and  de- 
vising the  means  of  its  future  existence.      Yes,  this 
singular  young  man,  the  only  surviving  son  of  his  hon- 
oured Father,  and  the  darling  of  his  childless  Uncle,  by 
his  pious  representations  induced  them  to  devote  to 
this  object  of   his  heart  no  small  portion  of  that  prop- 
erty,  to  which  himself  was  a  natural  heir.      Nor  could 
the  anxieties  and  labors  of  public  life,  during  our  rev- 
olutionary war,  divert  his  attention  from  his  favorite  de- 
sign.    For  in  the  midst  of  our  national  distresses  he 
hastened  into  actual  existence  his  beloved  Academy. 
What  an  example  to  young  men  of  talents ;    what  an 
encouragement  to  all  of  every  age  !     May  this  monu- 
ment of  his  wisdom  and  piety  be  as  lasting,  as  time ; 
and  may  the  expansion  of  it  stimulate  many  to  come 
and  do  likewise. 

While  we  naturally  regret,  that  this  paragon  of  pub- 
lic spirit  so  early  took  his  upward  flight ;  we  have  to 
bless  God,  that  his  mantle  descended  on  those  around 
him ;  and  that  a  copious  portion  of  the  same  spirit  has 
been  granted  to  others,  whom  delicacy  forbids  me  to 


10 

name.  These  also  have  come,  and  joined  themselves 
to  this  sacred  Institution  ;  and  largely  have  they  brought 
of  the  gold  of  Ophir  to  the  offerings  of  the  Lord.  May 
the  God  of  Heaven  bless  them  ;  may  they  long  live  to 
witness  the  good  fruits  of  their  munificence  ;  and  here- 
after may  they  inherit  durable  riches  and  righteousness 
in  that  Kingdom,  which  shall  never  be  moved. 

The  silver  and  the  gold  are  mine,  saith  Jehovah;  and  it 
is  the  Lord,  that  giveth  power  to  get  wealth,  and  a 
heart  to  employ  it  in  his  service.  To  Him  therefore, 
who  worketh  all  things  according  to  the  counsel  of  his 
own  will,  must  we  ultimately  refer  the  origin  and  pro- 
gress of  this  Institution ;  and  to  that  Almighty  Being, 
who  is  the  sole  Author  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift,  be 
ascribed  all  the  honor  and  glory  of  this  great  work ; 
and  let  the  Founders  and  all  the  people  say,  Amen. 


CONSTITUTION 

OF    THE 

THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY. 


It  having  pleased  the  Father  of  lights  and  Author  of 
all  good  to  inspire  the  late  Honorable  Samuel  Phillips 
of  Andover  in  the  County  of  Essex  and  Common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts  Esquire,  and  the  late  Honor- 
able John  Phillips  of  Exeter  in  the  County  of  Rock- 
ingham and  State  of  New-Hampshire  Esquire,  with 
the  pious  determination  to  make  "  a  humble  dedication 
"  to  their  Heavenly  Benefactor  of  the  ability,  wherewith 
u  He  had  blessed  them,"  by  laying,  in  the  year  1778, 
in  the  South  Parish  in  Andover  aforesaid,  the  founda- 
tion of  a  public  Academy,  for  the  instruction  of  youth,, 
not  only  in  the  learned  languages  and  in  various  useful 
Arts  and  Sciences,  but  principally  for  the  promotion  of 
true  piety  and  virtue  ; — it  having  also  pleased  the  In- 
finite Mind,  at  subsequent  periods,  to  excite  the  said 
John  Phillips,  and  likewise  the  late  Honorable  William 
Phillips,  of  Boston,  in  the  County  of  Suffolk  and  Com- 
monwealth aforesaid  Esquire,  to  make  liberal  provi- 
sion, not  only  for  "  promoting  the  virtuous  and  pious 
"  education  of  indigent  youth  of  genius,  and  of  serious 
"  disposition,  in  said  Academy ;"  but  "  more  especially 
"  for  the  benefit  of  charity  Scholars  of  excelling  genius, 
"  good  moral  character,  hopefully  pious,  and  designed 
ei  for  the  great  and  good  work  of  the  gospel  ministry, 


12 

"  who,  having  acquired  the  most  useful  human  Litera- 
ture, may  be  assisted  in  the  study  of  Divinity,  under 
"  the  direction  of  some  eminent  Calvinistic  Minister  of 
"  the  gospel,  until  such  time,  as  an  able,  pious,  and 
"  orthodox  Instructor  shall  be  supported  in  the  said 
"  Academy,  as  a  Professor  of  Divinity,  by  whom  they 
"  may  be  taught  the  important  and  distinguishing  te- 
"  nets  of  our  Holy  Christian  Religion" 

In  pursuance  therefore  of  the  same  benevolent  and 
pious  object,  and  with  a  desire  to  devote  a  part  of  the 
substance,  with  which  Heaven  has  blessed  us,  to  the 
defense  and  promotion  of  the  Christian  Religion,  by 
making  some  provision  for  increasing  the  number  of 
learned  and  able  defenders  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  as 
well  as  of  orthodox,  pious,  and  zealous  Ministers  of  the 
New  Testament  ;  being  moved  by  the  same  Spirit, 
which  actuated  the  Founders  and  Benefactors  afore- 
said, and  influenced,  as  we  hope,  by  a  principle  of 
gratitude  to  Go  d  and  benevolence  to  man  ; — 

We,  Phoebe  Phillips  of  said  Andover,  Relict  of  Sam- 
uel Phillips  Esquire  late  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the 
Commonwealth  aforesaid,  and  John  Phillips,  son  of  the 
said  Samuel  Phillips  and  Phoebe  Phillips,  do  hereby 
jointly  and  severally  obligate  ourselves  to  erect  and 
finish,  with  all  convenient-  dispatch,  two  separate  build- 
ings, one  of  which  to  be  three  stories  high,  and  of  such 
other  dimensions,  as  to  furnish  convenient  lodging- 
rooms  for  fifty  Students  ;  and  the  other  building  to  be 
two  stories  high,  and  of  such  dimensions,  as  to  furnish, 
in  addition  to  a  kitchen  and  private  rooms  necessary  to 
a  Steward's  family,,  three  public  rooms,  one  for  a  dining 


13 

Hall,  one  for  a  Chapel  and  Lecture  room,  (each  suffi- 
ciently  large  to  accommodate   sixty  Students)  and  a 
third  for  a  Library,  the  said  buildings  to  be  located  by 
direction  of  the  Trustees  of  Phillips  Academy  ; — and 
I  Samuel  Abbot   of  Andover  aforesaid   Esquire,  with 
the  same  views,  and  in  furtherance  of  the  same  design, 
do  hereby  give,  assign,  and  set  over  unto  the  Trustees 
aforesaid   the  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dollars,  in  trust, 
as  a  fund  for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  a  Professor 
of  Christian  Theology  (reserving  to  myself  the  right  of 
appointing  the  first  Professor  on  this  Foundation)  and 
for  the  support  and  encouragement  of  Students  in  Di- 
vinity ;    both  the  said   buildings  and  the  interest  or 
annual  income  of  the  said  sum  of  money  to  be  forever 
appropriated  and  applied  by  the  Trustees  aforesaid  for 
the  use  and  endowment  of  such  a  public  Theological 
Institution  in  Phillips  Academy,  as  is  herein  after  des- 
cribed, and  on  the  following  express  conditions,  viz. 
that  the  said  Institution  be  accepted  by  the  Trustees 
aforesaid,  and  that  it  be  forever  conducted  and  govern- 
ed by  them  and  their  Successors  in  conformity  to  the 
following   general  Principles  and  Regulations,   which 
we  unitedly  adopt  and  ratify  as  the  Constitution  of  the 
same,  reserving  to  ourselves,  however,  during  our  na- 
tural lives  the  full  right  jointly  to  make  any  additional 
regulations,  or  to  alter  any  rule  herein  prescribed,  pro- 
vided such  regulation  or  alteration  be  not  prejudicial 
to  the  true  design  of  this  Foundation,  viz. 

First.     This  Institution  or  Seminary  shall  be  equal 
ly  open  to  Protestants   of  every  denomination  for  the 
admission  of  young  men  of  requisite  qualifications. 


14- 

Second.  Every  candidate  for  admission  into  this 
Seminary  shall  produce  satisfactory  evidence,  that  he 
possesses  good  natural  and  acquired  talents,  has  honor- 
ably completed  a  course  of  liberal  education,  and  sus- 
tains a  fair  moral  character.  He  shall  also  declare  that 
it  is  his  serious  intention  to  devote  himself  to  the  work 
of  the  gospel  ministry,  (unless  in  certain  peculiar  cases 
it  appear  to  the  Trustees,  or  a  Committee  of  their  ap- 
pointment, that  the  object  of  this  Institution  will  be 
promoted  by  excusing  a  pious  applicant  from  making 
this  declaration)  and  exhibit  proper  testimonials  of  his 
being  in  full  communion  with  some  Church  of  Christ; 
in  default  of  which  he  shall  subscribe  a  declaration  of 
his  belief  of  the  Christian  Religion. 

Third.  The  Students  in  this  Seminary  shall  be 
aided  in  their  preparation  for  the  ministry  by  able  Pro- 
fessors ;  whose  duty  it  shall  be,  by  public  and  private 
instruction,  to  unlock  the  treasures  of  divine  knowledge, 
to  direct  the  Pupils  in  their  inquiries  after  sacred  truth, 
to  guard  them  against  religious  error,  and  to  accelerate 
their  acquisition  of  heavenly  wisdom. 

Fourth.  The  public  instruction  shall  be  given  in 
Lectures  on  Natural  Theology,  Sacred  Literature,  Ec- 
clesiastical History,  Christian  Theology,  and  Pulpit 
Eloquence. 

Fifth.  In  the  lectures  on  Natural  Theology,  the 
existence,  attributes,  and  providence  of  God,  shall  be 
demonstrated  ;  the  soul's  immortality  and  a  future 
state>  as  deducible  from  the  light  of  nature,  discussed  ; 
the  obligations  of  man  to  his  Maker,  resulting  from  the 
divine  perfections   and  his  own  rational  nature,  enforc- 


15 

cd  ;  the  great  duties  of  social  life,  flowing  from  the 
mutual  relations  of  man  to  man,  inculcated  ;  and  the 
several  personal  virtues  deduced  and  delineated  ;  the 
whole  being  interspersed  with  remarks  on  the  coinci- 
dence between  the  dictates  of  reason  and  the  doctrines 
of  revelation,  in  these  primary  points  ;  and,  notwith- 
standing such  coincidence,  the  necessity  and  utility  of 
a  divine  revelation  stated. 

Sixth.  Under  the  head  of  Sacred  Literature  shall 
be  included,  lectures  on  the  formation,  preservation,  and 
transmission  of  the  sacred  volume  ;  on  the  languages, 
in  which  the  Bible  was  originally  written  ;  on  the 
Septuagint  version  of  the  old  Testament,  and  on  the 
peculiarities  of  the  language  and  style  of  the  new  Tes- 
tament, resulting  from  this  version  and  other  causes  ; 
on  the  history,  character,  use,  and  authority  of  the  an- 
cient versions  and  manuscripts  of  the  old  and  new 
Testaments  ;  on  the  canons  of  biblical  criticism  ;  on 
the  authenticity  of  the  several  books  of  the  sacred  Code ; 
on  the  apocryphal  books  of  both  Testaments  ;  on 
modern  translations  of  the  Bible,  more  particularly  on 
the  history  and  character  of  our  English  version  ;  and 
also  critical  lectures  on  the  various  readings  and  diffi- 
cult passages  in  the  sacred  writings. 

Seventh.  Under  the  head  of  Ecclesiastical  History 
shall  be  comprised  lectures  on  Jewish  antiquities  ;  on 
the  origin  and  extension  of  the  Christian  church  in  the 
first  three  centuries  ;  on  the  various  sects  and  heresies 
in  the  early  ages  of  Christianity  ;  on  the  character  and 
writings  of  the  fathers  ;  on  the  establishment  of  Chris- 
tianity by  Constantine,  and  its  subsequent  effects  ;  on 


16 

the  rise  and  progress  of  popeiy  and  mahometanism  ; 
on  the  corruptions  of  the  church  of  Rome  ;  on  the 
grounds,  progress,  and  doctrines  of  the  reformation  ; 
on  the  different  denominations  among  protestants  ;  on 
the  various  constitutions,  discipline,  and  rites  of  wor- 
ship, which  have  divided,  or  may  still  divide  the  Chris- 
tian church  ;  on  the  state  and  prevalence  of  paganism 
in  our  world  ;  and  on  the  effect,  which  idolatry,  ma- 
hometanism, and  Christianity  have  respectively  produc- 
ed on  individual  and  national  character. 

Eighth.  Under  the  head  of  Christian  Theology 
shall  be  comprehended  lectures  on  divine  revelation  ; 
on  the  inspiration  and  truth  of  the  old  and  new  Testa- 
ments, as  proved  by  miracles,  internal  evidence,  fulfil- 
ment of  prophecies,  and  historic  facts  ;  on  the  great 
doctrines  and  duties  of  our  holy  Christian  religion,  to- 
gether with  the  objections  made  to  them  by  unbeliev- 
ers, and  the  refutation  of  such  objections  ;  more  par- 
ticularly on  the  revealed  character  of  God,  as  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost  ;  on  the  fall  of  man  and  the  de- 
pravity of  human  nature  ;  on  the  covenant  of  grace  ; 
on  the  character,  offices,  atonement,  and  mediation  of 
Jesus  Christ  ;  on  the  character  and  offices  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  ;  on.  the  scripture  doctrines  of  regenera- 
tion, justification,  and  sanctification  ;  on  evangelical 
repentance,  faith,  and  obedience  ;  on  the  nature  and 
necessity  of  true  virtue  or  gospel  holiness  ;  on  the  fu- 
ture state,  the  immortality  of  soul  and  body,  and  the 
eternity  of  future  rewards  and  punishments,  as  revealed 
in  the  gospel  ;  on  the  positive  institutions  of  Christian- 
ity ;  on  the  nature,  interpretation,  and  use  of  prophecy ; 


17 

and  on  personal  religion,  as  a  qualification  for  the  min- 
istry ;  each  Lecture  under  this  head  to  be  preceded  and 
followed  by  prayer. 

Ninth.  Under  the  head  of  Pulpit  Eloquence  shall 
be  delivered  a  competent  number  of  lectures  on  the 
importance  of  oratory  ;  on  the  invention  and  disposi- 
tion of  topics  ;  on  the  several  pails  of  a  regular  dis- 
course ;  on  elegance,  composition,  and  dignity  in  style  ; 
on  pronunciation,  or  the  proper  management  of  the 
voice  and  correct  gesture  ;  on  the  immense  impor- 
tance of  a  natural  manner  ;  on  the  rules  to  be  observ- 
ed in  composing  a  sermon,  and  on  the  adaptation  of  the 
principles  and  precepts  of  antient  rhetoric  to  this  modern 
species  of  oration  ;  on  the  qualities  in  the  speaker,  in 
his  style,  and  in  his  delivery,  necessary  to  a  finished 
pulpit  Orator  ;  on  the  methods  of  strengthening  the 
memory,  and  of  improving  in  sacred  eloquence  ;  on 
the  character  and  style  of  the  most  eminent  Divines  and 
Lest  models  for  imitation,  their  respective  beauties  and 
excellencies  in  thought  and  expression  ;  and  above  all, 
on  the  transcendent  simplicity,  beauty,  and  sublimity 
of  the  sacred  writings. 

Tenth.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Professors,  by 
private  instruction  and  advice,  to  aid  the  Students  in 
the  acquisition  of  a  radical  and  adequate  knowledge  of 
the  sacred  scriptures  in  their  original  languages,  and  of 
the  old  Testament  in  the  Septuagint  version  ;  to  direct 
their  method  of  studying  the  Bible  and  all  other  writ- 
ings ;  to  superintend  and  animate  their  pursuits  by 
frequent  inquiries  and  examinations,  relative  to  their 
progress  jn  books  and  knowledge  ;    to  assign  proper 


18 

subjects  for  their  first  compositions,  and  to  suggest  a 
natural  method  of  treating  them  ;  frequently  and  crit- 
ically to  examine  their  early  productions,  and  in  a  free, 
but  friendly  manner,  to  point  out  their  defects  and  er- 
rors, in  grammar,  method,  reasoning,  style,  and  senti- 
ment ;  to  improve  them  in  the  important  art  of  read- 
ing, and  to  give  them  opportunities  of  speaking  in  pub- 
lic, favoring  them  with  their  candid  remarks  on  their 
whole  manner  ;  to  explain  intricate  texts  of  scripture, 
referred  to  them  ;  to  solve  cases  of  conscience  ;  to 
watch  over  their  health  and  morals  with  paternal  solici- 
tude ;  and  by  every  prudent  and  christian  method  to 
promote  the  growth  of  true  piety  in  their  hearts  ;  to 
give  them  friendly  advice  with  relation  to  their  neces- 
sary intercourse  among  men  in  the  various  walks  of  life, 
and  especially  with  respect  to  the  manner,  in  which  it 
becomes  a  minister  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus  to 
address  both  God  and  man,  whether  in  the  assembly 
of  his  saints,  or  in  the  chamber  of  sickness  and  of  death. 
Eleventh.  Every  Professor  in  this  Seminary 
shall  be  a  Master  of  Arts,  of  the  Protestant  reformed 
religion,  in  communion  with  some  Christian  church 
of  the  Congregational  or  Presbyterian  denomination,, 
and  sustain  the  character  of  a  sober,  honest,  learned, 
and  pious  man  ;  he  shall  moreover  be  a  man  of  sound 
and  orthodox  principles  in  Divinity,  according  to  that 
form  of  sound  words  or  system  of  evangelical  doc- 
trines, drawn  from  the  scriptures,  and  denominated  the 
Westminster-  Assembly's  shorter  Catechism,  and  more 
concisely  delineated  in  the  Constitution  of  Phillips 
Academy. 


19 

Twelfth.     Every  person  therefore,  appointed  or 
elected  a  Professor  in  this  Seminary,  shall  on  the  day 
of  his  inauguration,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  said 
Trustees,  publicly  make  and  subscribe  a  solemn  de- 
claration of  his  faith  in  divine  revelation,  and  in  the 
fundamental  and  distinguishing  doctrines  of  the  gospel 
of  Christ,  as  summarily  expressed  in  the  Westmin- 
ster Assembly's  shorter  Catechism  ;    and  he  shall  far- 
thermore  solemnly  promise,  that  he  will  open  and  ex- 
plain the  Scriptures  to  his  Pupils  with  integrity  and 
faithfulness  ;    that  he  will  maintain  and  inculcate  the 
christian  faith,  as  above  expressed,  together  with  all 
the  other  doctrines  and  duties  of  our  holy  religion,  so 
far  as  may  appertain  to  his  office,  according  to  the  best 
light  God  shall  give  him,  and  in  opposition,  not  only  to 
Atheists  and  Infidels,  but  to  Jews,  Mahometans,  Arianc, 
Pelagians,  Antinomians,  Arminians,  Socinians,  Unita- 
rians, and  Universalists,  and  to  all  other  heresies  and 
errors,  antient  or  modem,  which  may  be  opposed  to 
the  gospel  of  Christ,    or  hazardous  to  the  souls  of 
men  ; — that  by  his  instruction,  counsel,  and  example, 
he  will  endeavour  to  promote  true  Piety  and  Godliness; 
that  he  will  consult  the  good  of  this  Institution  and  the 
peace  of  the  churches  of  our  Lord   Jesus  Christ  on 
all  occasions  ;  and  that  he  will  religiously  observe  the 
Statutes  of  this  Institution,  relative  to  his  official  duties 
and  deportment,  and  all  such  other  Statutes  and  Laws 
as  shall  be  constitutionally  made  by  the  Trustees  of 
Phillips  Academy,  not  repugnant  thereto. 

Thirteenth.     The  preceding  declaration  shall  be 
repeated  by  every  Professor  in  this  Seminary,  in  the 


20 

presence  of  the  said  Trustees,  at  the  expiration  of"  ev- 
ery successive  period  of  five  years  ;  and  no  man  shall 
be  continued  a  Professor  in  this  Institution,  who  shall 
not  continue  to  approve  himself,  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  said  Trustees,  a  man  of  sound  and  orthodox  princi- 
ples in  Divinity,  agreeably  to  the  system  of  evangelical 
doctrines,  contained  in  the  aforesaid  Catechism.  Ac- 
cordingly, if  at  any  meeting  regularly  appointed,  it 
should  be  proved  to  the  satisfaction  of  a  majority  of 
the  whole  number  of  the  said  Trustees,  that  any  Pro- 
fessor in  this  Institution  has  taught  or  embraced  any  of 
the  heresies  or  errors,  alluded  to  in  the  Declaration 
aforesaid  ;  or,  should  he  refuse  to  repeat  the  same,  as 
herein  required,  he  shall  be  forthwith  removed  from 
office. 

Fourteenth.  Every  Professor  in  this  Institution 
shall  be  under  the  immediate  inspection  of  the  said 
Trustees,  and  by  them  be  removed,  agreeably  to  the 
will  of  his  Founder,  for  gross  neglect  of  duty,  scanda- 
lous immorality,  mental  incapacity,  or  any  other  just 
and  sufficient  cause. 

Fifteenth.  Whenever  a  Professor  in  this  Semi- 
nary shall  be  removed  by  death  or  otherwise,  the  said 
Trustees  shall  elect  a  successor  within  twelve  months. 

Sixteenth.  The  Trustees  aforesaid,  in  conform- 
ity to  the  statutes  of  every  Founder,  shall  assign  to  the 
Professors  in  this  Seminary  their  respective  departments 
of  instruction,  the  times  for  reading  their  lectures,  and 
their  several  public  and  private  duties,  in  such  manner, 
as,  after  consultation  with  the  said  Professors,  shall  to 
the  said  Trustees  appear  most  convenient  and  useful ; 


21 

provided  however,  that  the  course  of  lectures  in  each 
department  be  always  completed  within  the  space  of 
three  years. 

Seventeenth.  The  necessary  expences  of  indi- 
gent Students  at  this  Seminary,  for  board,  lodging, 
washing,  fuel,  and  light,  will  be  defrayed  out  of  funds 
appropriated  to  this  purpose,  agreeably  to  the  regula- 
tions, in  such  case  provided,  and  as  said  funds  may 
permit. 

Eighteenth.  No  person  shall  be  admitted  a  Stu - 
dent  on  the  charitable  Foundation,  who  is  not  distin- 
guished by  natural  'abilities?  literary  acquirements,  un- 
blemished morals,  and  hopeful  piety  ;  a  certificate  of 
which  qualities  will  be  required  from  known  and  res- 
pectable characters,  in  order  to  the  enjoyment  of  this 
charity. 

Nineteenth.  To  be  entitled  to  the  maintenance 
aforesaid,  each  Student  on  the  charitable  Foundation, 
unless  prevented  by  sickness,  must  reside  at  this  Semi- 
nary nine  months  at  least  in  each  year,  regularly  at- 
tending the  exercises  aforesaid  as  well,  as  diligently 
prosecuting  the  studies  prescribed,  and  in  all  respects 
conforming  to  the  rules  of  this  Constitution,  and  to  the 
laws  and  orders  of  the  said  Trustees. 

Twentieth.  Whatever  may  be  the  number  of 
vacations,  the  aggregate  thereof  shall  not  exceed  eight 
weeks  in  any  one  year  ;  and  the  constant  presence  of 
the  Professors  and  Students  will  be  expected  in  term 
time. 

Twenty-first.  Every  Student  in  this  Seminary 
shall  constantly,  punctually,  and  seriously  attend  the 


22 

religious  exercises  of  the  chapel  morning  and  evening, 
and  all  the  public  lectures  of  the  several  Professors  ; 
and,  to  increase  the  reverence  due  to  religious  institu- 
tions as  well,  as  to  give  weight  to  public  instruction, 
it  is  expected,  that  the  Professors  not  only  frequent  the 
chapel  at  morning  and  evening  prayers,  but  that  they 
constantly  attend  each  other's  public  lectures. 

T w  e  n  t  y -  s  e  c  o  n  d  .  Every  Student  in  this  Semina- 
ry is  required  to  devote  so  much  time  to  the  study  of 
the  learned  languages,  as  shall  increase  his  knowledge 
of  them,  especially  of  the  Greek  and  Hebrew  lan- 
guages ;  to  pay  due  attention  to  Philology,  Rhetoric,  and 
Oratory  ;  to  read  the  best  treatises  on  natural  and  re- 
vealed Religion,  and  on  the  fundamental  doctrines  of 
the  Gospel  ;  to  make  himself  master  of  the  principal 
arguments  and  evidences  of  the  truth  of  Christianity  ; 
to  pay  due  attention  to  ecclesiastical  History,  and  to 
the  canons  of  biblical  Criticism.  But  above  all,  it  is 
required,  that  he  make  the  Bible  the  object  of  his  most 
attentive,  diligent,  and  prayerful  study. 

Twenty-third.  It  will  be  the  duty  of  the  Pro- 
fessors in  this  Seminary  to  prepare  a  list  of  such  books, 
and  to  point  out  such  a  course  of  study,  as  in  their 
opinion  may  be  most  congenial  to  the  true  design  of 
this  Institution,  and  most  beneficial  to  the  Students  in 
it  ;  which  list  of  books  and  course  of  study,  being  ap- 
proved by  said  Trustees,  said  Students  shall  pursue  ; 
they  shall  also  frequently  ask  the  advice  and  assistance 
of  the  Professors  with  reference  to  their  studies  ;  and 
often  submit  their  theological  compositions,  especially 


23 

their  first  essays,  to  the  friendly  inspection  and  faithful 
remarks  of  one  or  more  of  the  said  Professors. 

Twenty-fourth.  Each  Student,  once  at  least  in 
every  year,  shall  acquaint  the  Professors  with  the  books, 
he  has  read,  and  with  his  course  of  study,  during  said 
year  ;  and  shall  also  be  examined  in  the  original  lan- 
guages of  the  old  and  new  Testament,  and  in  the 
Septuagint  version  of  the  former  ;  also  with  reference 
to  the  leading  sentiments  and  arguments  of  the  princi- 
pal authors,  he  has  perused  ;  but  especially  with  res- 
pect to  the  style,  character,  and  design  of  those  sacred 
writers,  which  agreeably  to  direction  he  has  particu- 
larly studied. 

Twenty-fifth.  If  upon  due  and  impartial  ex- 
amination it  be  found,  that  any  Student  on  the  charita- 
ble Foundation  aforesaid,  has  not  made  reasonable  pro- 
ficiency in  the  studies  prescribed  him,  he  shall  be  con- 
tinued thereon  no  longer ;  and,  if  any  Student  whatever 
in  this  Seminary  shall  be  guilty  of  any  gross  immorali- 
ty, or  of  any  insult  or  oppugnation  to  the  said  Trustees, 
or  to  any  Professor  or  Officer  of  this  Seminary,  he  shall 
be  cut  off  from  all  the  advantages  and  benefits  of  this 
Institution,  unless  he  make  reasonable  and  immediate 
satisfaction  for  his  offence. 

Twenty-sixth.  Whenever  a  Student  shall  have 
honorably  finished  his  term  and  course  of  study  under 
the  direction  of  the  Professors,  and  such  Student  shall 
request  it,  a  Certificate,  signed  by  the  Professors,  speci- 
fying how  long  such  Student  has  studied  under  the 
direction,  and  attended  the  lectures  of  the  Professors, 
that  he  has  prosecuted  his  studies  with  diligence,  and 


24 

sustained  a  good  moral  character,  shall  be  given  him  : 
provided  always,  that  his  conduct,  and  his  proficiency 
in  theological  knowledge  be  such,  as  to  merit  the  same. 

Twenty-seventh.  After  the  expiration  of  the 
first  three  years  from  the  opening  of  this  Institution,  it 
will  be  required  of  all  persons,  who  may  wish  to  enjoy 
the  advantages  of  the  same,  that  they  statedly  reside  at 
the  Seminary  three  full  years,  vacations  excepted  ;  a 
period  scarcely  sufficient  for  acquiring  that  fund  of 
knowledge,  which  is  necessary  for  a  minister  of  the 
gospel.  No  Student  therefore,  after  the  expiration  of 
the  first  three  years  of  the  Institution,  shall  be  entitled 
to  the  Certificate  aforesaid,  nor  can  any  one  leave  the 
Seminary  in  an  honorable  manner,  within  the  term  of 
three  years  of  such  residence,  except  by  permission, 
specially  obtained  of  the  Trustees,  in  case  of  necessity. 

Twenty-eighth.  Every  morning  and  evening, 
during  term  time,  religious  exercises  shall  be  performed 
in  trhe  chapel,  and  these  exercises  shall  usually  be,  as  fol- 
lows. The  divine  assistance  and  blessing  shall  be  first 
implored  in  a  short  prayer  ;  a  devotional  chapter  or 
psalm  shall  then  be  read,  accompanied  with  pious  and 
practical  reflections  ;  or,  instead  of  this,  once  at  least 
in  every  week,  an  exposition  shall  be  given  upon  some 
deeply  interesting  passage  of  scripture  ;  to  this  shall 
succeed  a  piece  of  genuine  psalmody ;  and  the  services 
be  concluded  by  an  appropriate  prayer.  In  these  ex- 
ercises the  Professors  shall  preside  and  ordinarily  offi- 
ciate ;  but  Students  of  two  years  standing  may  occa- 
sionally perform  them  in  whole  or  in  part,  according  to 


25 

the  desire  and  direction  of  the  Professors.  Moreover, 
as  soon  as  circumstances  will  permit,  a  regular  church 
will  be  formed  in  this  Seminary,  consisting  chiefly  of 
the  Professors,  Students,  and  families,  connected  with 
this  Seminary  and  Phillips  Academy  ;  after  which,  if 
not  before,  divine  services  will  be  publicly  celebrated 
in  the  chapel  of  the  Seminary,  in  the  forenoon  and  af- 
ternoon of  every  Lord  's-day ,  during  term  time.  These 
services  shall  be  usually  performed  by  the  Professors, 
but  sometimes  by  such  senior  Students,  as  may  have 
obtained  permission  of  the  Professors  to  preach  occa- 
sionally ;  and  they  shall  be  attended  by  all  the  Students 
of  this  Institution,  and  by  as  many  of  the  families  of 
the  Professors  and  Officers,  connected  with  it,  or  with 
Phillips  Academy,  as  may  wish  for  this  privilege,  and 
by  as  many  pupils  of  said  Academy,  as  may  be  deem- 
ed expedient  by  the  Trustees  aforesaid. 

Twenty -ninth.  The  senior  Students  will  be  re- 
quired, not  only  to  prepare  sermons,  but  occasionally 
to  deliver  them  in  public,  both  in  the  Seminary  and  in 
neighbouring  congregations,  as  may  be  judged  expe- 
dient by  the  said  Professors.  No  Student,  however, 
shall  presume  to  preach,  before,  upon  thorough  ex- 
amination of  his  qualifications  and  motives  for  preach- 
ing, he  shall  have  obtained  a  written  permission  there- 
for, subscribed  by  the  Professors,  or  the  major  part  of 
them.  This  permission,  however,  is  never  to  super- 
sede die  customary  approbation  or  license  of  some  re- 
gular Association  or  Presbytery. 


26 

Thirtieth.  Sacred  Music,  and  especially  Psalm- 
ody, being  an  important  part  of  public,  social  worship, 
and,  as  it  is  proper  for  those,  who  are  to  preside  in  the 
assemblies  of  God's  people,  to  possess  themselves  so 
much  skill  and  taste  in  this  sublime  art,  as  at  least  to 
distinguish  between  those  solemn  movements,  which 
are  congenial  to  pious  minds,  and  those  unhallowed, 
trifling,  medley  pieces,  which  chill  devotion  ;  it  is  ex- 
pected, that  serious  attention  will  be  paid  to  the  culture 
of  a  true  taste  for  genuine  Church  Music  in  this  Semi- 
nary ;  and  that  all  Students  therein,  who  have  tolerable 
voices,  will  be  duly  instructed  in  the  theory  and  prac- 
tice of  this  celestial  art  ;  and,  whenever  it  shall  be  in 
the  power  of  either  of  the  said  Professors,  it  shall  ac- 
cordingly be  his  duty  to  afford  this  necessary  instruc- 
tion ;  and,  whenever  this  shall  not  be  the  case,  it  is 
expected,  that  an  Instructor  will  be  procured  for  this 
purpose. 

Thirty- first.  All  Professors,  Officers,  and  Stu- 
dents in  this  Seminary,  and  all  other  persons  employed 
in  its  service,  together  with  the  Lands,  Buildings,  Li- 
brary, Funds,  and  all  other  property,  thereto  belong- 
ng  shall  be  under  the  immediate  inspection  and  gov- 
ernment of  the  Trustees  aforesaid,  and  be  regulated 
and  managed  by  them  in  strict  conformity  to  this  Con- 
stitution, and  to  the  Statutes  and  Will  of  every  Foun- 
der of  a  Professorship,  or  Benefactor  of  this  Institu- 
tion. And  the  said  Trustees  are  hereby  authorized  and 
empowered  to  make  such  additional  Regulations,  (not 
inconsistent  with  the  Regulations  established  in  this 
Constitution,  nor  with  the  Statutes  or  #7/7 of  any  Fotm- 


27 

der  or  Donor,  nor  with  the  object  of  this  Institution,  noi 
in  any  degree  avoiding  them  or  either  of  them)  as  they 
in  their  wisdom  shall  deem  necessary  to  give  the  fullest 
efficacy  to  these  provisions,  or  the  consistent  provisions 
of  future  Benefactors  ;  whether  such  Regulations  may 
relate  to  the  conduct  of  the  Professors,  the  government 
of  the  Students,  their  various  duties  and  exercises,  their 
lodging  and  diet,  the  prevention  and  punishment  of  of- 
fences, the  preservation  of  health,  the  promotion  of  or- 
der, peace,  and  harmony,  to  the  safety  of  the  buildings, 
or  to  the  security  of  the  Funds,  which  last  are  to  be 
effectually  guarded  against  all  loss  and  diminution ;  in 
a  word,  to  do  every  thing,  under  the  foregoing  limita- 
tions, which,  upon  serious  and  mature  deliberation,  may 
appear  to  them  necessary  to  secure  and  promote  the 
true  object  of  this  Institution. 

Thirty-second.  Notwithstanding  this  Seminary 
is  placed,  by  this  Constitution,  under  the  immediate 
care  and  government  of  the  Trustees  of  Phillips  Acad- 
emy, it  is  always  to  be  understood,  and  it  is  hereby 
expressly  declared,  that  every  Founder  of  a  Professor- 
ship, Scholarship,  or  any  other  Living  whatever,  in  this 
Institution,  will  have  the  exclusive  right  of  prescribing 
the  Regulations  and  Statutes,  to  be  observed  by  the 
said  Trustees  in  conducting  the  concerns  of  the  same, 
said  Regulations  and  Statutes  being  always  consistent 
with  the  principles  and  object  of  this  Institution  ;  and 
also  the  right  of  appointing,  in  the  original  deed  or 
grant  for  the  term  of  his  life,  such  local  Visitor  or 
Visitors,  as  he  may  think  proper,  and  to  endow  him  or 
them  with  all  visitatorial  powers  and  authorities,  neces- 


28 

sary  to  secure  and  enforce  due  observance  and  execu- 
tion of  his  said  Regulations  and  Statutes. 

Thirty-third.  Whereas  the  necessary  business 
of  this  Seminary  will  be  sufficient  to  employ  the  said 
Trustees  one  day  at  least  in  every  year  ;  they  are  re- 
quested to  hold  an  annual  meeting  for  transacting  the 
same,  on  such  day  in  each  year,  as  they  may  appoint  ; 
and  likewise  to  meet  as  much  oftener,  as  the  good  of 
said  Seminary  may  require  ;  and  at  each  annual  meet- 
ing to  read  this  Constitution.  The  rules  and  modes  of 
doing  business  at  all  such  meetings  shall  be  the  same, 
mutatis  mutandis,  which  are  prescribed  in  the  Consti- 
tution of  Phillips  Academy.  Decent,  not  extravagant 
entertainment,  shall  be  made  for  the  Trustees,  while 
attending  the  said  meetings,  reasonable  compensation 
made  to  the  Treasurer  of  said  Academy,  for  his  ser- 
vices, and  other  necessary  expenses  of  this  Institution 
defrayed  out  of  the  income  of  its  funds.  It  is  also  par- 
ticularly requested,  that  all  the  transactions  of  the  said 
Trustees,  relative  to  the  said  Theological  Institution  r 
be  recorded  in  a  distinct  book  ;  and  likewise  that  all 
property  given,  devised,  or  bequeathed  for  the  support 
of  this  Seminary,  be  separated  and  forever  kept  distinct 
from  all  other  property,  to  the  Trustees  aforesaid  in 
any  way  or  for  any  other  purpose  entrusted,  being 
never  blended  therewith  in  any  part  or  degree,  by  loan 
or  purchase  ;  and  that  the  said  Treasurer  accordingly 
keep  all  his  accounts  and  entries,  relative  to  these 
Funds,  in  distinct  books,  and  all  monies,  evidences  of 
property,  receipts,  papers,  and  books  of  account,  ap- 
pertaining to  this  Institution,  in  a  separate  trunk  or 


29 

chest,  prepared  for  prompt  removal  on  any  emergence  ; 
and  that  the  accounts  of  said  Treasurer  be  annualh 
audited  by  a  Committee,  for  this  purpose  appointed, 
who  shall  report  to  the  said  Trustees  in  writing. 

Thirty-fourth.  Confiding  in  the  wisdom  and 
fidelity  of  the  said  Trustees  and  their  Successors  in 
office,  and  with  the  pleasing  hope  and  expectation,  that 
they  will  religiously  appropriate  the  aforesaid  buildings 
and  the  income  of  the  aforesaid  Fund,  and  of  all  future 
Donations  for  the  same  pious  purpose,  to  the  great 
object  of  supporting  a  theological  Seminary,  such  as 
herein  contemplated  and  described,  agreeably  to  the 
principles  and  regulations  contained  in  this  Constitution ; 
we  do  now,  under  God,  cheerfully  commit  this  our 
Foundation  to  their  pious  and  watchful  care,  trusting 
that  no  exertion  on  their  part  will  be  wanting  to  the 
success  of  an  Institution,  so  intimately  connected  with 
the  glory  of  God,  the  advancement  of  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom,  and  the  salvation  of  their  fellow  men. 

But,  while  we  thus  express  our  conviction  of  the 
necessity  and  utility  of  this  Institution,  it  is  our  earnest 
prayer,  that  our  own  minds,  and  the  minds  of  the 
Trustees,  Professors,  Students,  and  all  connected 
therewith,  may  be  ever  penetrated  by  a  deep  sense  of 
the  necessity  of  the  divine  direction,  influence,  and 
blessing,  to  render  even  the  wisest  provisions  and  the 
best  human  instructions  ultimately  successful. 

To  the  Spirit  of  truth,  to  the  divine  Author  of  our 
faith,  to  the  only  wise  God,  we  desire  in  sincerity  to 
present  this  our  humble  offering  :  devoutly  imploring 
the  Father  of  lights  richly  to  endue  with  wisdom  from 


30 

above  all  his  servants  the  Trustees  of  this  Seminary, 
and  with  spiritual  understanding  the  Professors  there- 
in, that,  being  illuminated  by  the  Holy  Spirit^  their 
doctrine  may  drop  as  the  rain,  and  their  speech  distil 
as  the  dew  ;  and  that  their  Pupils  may  become  trees 
of  renown  in  the  courts  of  our  God,  whereby  He  may 
be  glorified. 

In  witness  whereof  we  the  subscribers  have  hereunto 
set  our  hands  and  seals  this  thirty  first  day  of  August 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  seven. 

PHCEBE  PHILLIPS,  (S) 
JOHN  PHILLIPS,  Jun.  (S) 
SAMUEL  ABBOT.        (S) 

Signed,  sealed,  and  delivered 
in  presence  of 
SAMUEL  STEARNS, 
JOSEPH  PHELPS, 
AMOS  BLANCHARD. 


ADDITIONAL  STATUTES. 


We  the  subscribers,  having  made  some  provision  for. 
the  establishment  of  a  Theological  Institution  in  con- 
nexion with  Phillips  Academy,  by  covenanting  to  erect 
certain  buildings  therefor,  and  by  laying  a  Foundation 
for  a  Professorship  of  Christian  Theology  therein,  and 
having  given  a  Constitution,  containing  principles  and 
regulations  for  the  management  of  the  said  Institution, 
which  has  been  accepted  by  the  Trustees  of  said 
Academy,  in  which  we  "  reserved  to  ourselves,  during 
"  our  natural  lives,  the  right  jointly  to  make  any  ad- 
"  ditional  regulations,  or  to  alter  any  rule  therein  pre- 
"  scribed,  provided  such  regulation  or  alteration  be  not 
"  prejudicial  to  the  true  design  of  said  Foundation" — 
We  do  now,  agreeably  to  the  said  reserved  right,  and 
in  furtherance,  as  we  trust,  of  our  original  design  there- 
in expressed,  make  and  ordain  the  following  articles,  to 
be  added  to,  and  taken,  as  a  part  of  our  said  Constitu- 
tion ;  Provided  the  said  Trustees  shall  accept  the  Sta- 
tutes and  Foundation  of  the  Associate  Founders, 
so  called,  viz,  of  Moses  Brown  and  WilliamBart- 
let  Esquires  of  Newbury  Port  and  the  Honorable 
John  Norris  Esquire  of  Salem,  which  are  now  exe- 
cuted, and  to  be  laid  before  the  said  Trustees,  at  their 


approaching  meeting,  for  their  acceptance  ;  and  to  con- 
tinue of  full  force,  as  a  part  of  our  said  Constitution,  so 
long  as  the  said  Associate  Foundation  shall  continue 
attached  to  our  said  Institution,  and  no  longer. 

First.  Having  provided  in  the  twelfth  Article  of 
our  said  Constitution,  that  "  every  person,  appoint- 
ed or  elected  a  Professor  in  the  said  Seminary,  shall 
"  on  the  day  of  his  inauguration  publicly  make  and 
"  subscribe  a  declaration  of  his  faith  in  divine  revela- 
"  tion,  and  in  the  fundamental  and  distinguishing  doc- 
"  trines  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  as  summarily  expres- 
"  sed  in  the  Westminster  Assembly's  Shorter  Cate- 
"chism  ;"  We  now  ordain  the  following  addition,  to 
be  inserted  in  said  Article,  in  connexion  with  the  said 
clause,  viz,  '  and  as  more  particularly  expressed  in  the 
following  Creed,  to  wit, 

*  I  believe  that  there  is  one  and  but  one  living  and  true 
God  ;  that  the  word  of  God,  contained  in  the  Scrip- 
tures of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  is  the  only  per- 
fect rule  of  faith  and  practice  ;  that  agreeably  to  those 
Scriptures  God  is  a  Spirit,  infinite,  eternal,  and  un- 
changeable in  his  being,  wisdom,  power,  holiness,  jus- 
tice, goodness,  and  truth  ;  that  in  the  Godhead  are 
three  Persons,  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost  ;  and  that  these  Three  are  One  God,  the 
same  in  substance,  equal  in  power  and  glory  ;  that 
Go  d  created  man  after  his  own  image  in  knowledge, 
righteousness,  and  holiness  ';  that  the  glory  of  God  is 
man's  chief  end,  and  the  enjoyment  of  God  his  su- 
preme happiness ;  that  this  enjoyment  is  derived  solely 
from  conformitv  of  heart  to  the  moral  character  and 


will  of  God  ;  that  Adam,  the  federal  head  and  repre- 
sentative of  the  human  race,  was  placed  in  a  state  of 
probation,  and  that  in  consequence  of  his  disobedience 
all  his  descendants  were  constituted  sinners  ;  that  by 
nature  every  man  is  personally  depraved,  destitute  of 
holiness,  unlike  and  opposed  to  God,  and  that  pre- 
viously to  the  renewing  agency  of  the  Divine  Spirit 
all  his  moral  actions  are  adverse  to  the  character  and 
glory  of  God  ;  that,  being  morally  incapable  of  re- 
covering the  image  of  his  Creator,  which  was  lost  in 
Adam,  every  man  is  justly  exposed  to  eternal  damna- 
tion ;  so  that,  except  a  man  be  born  again,  he  cannot 
see  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  that  God,  of  his  mere  good 
pleasure,  from  all  eternity  elected  some  to  everlasting 
life,  and  that  he  entered  into  a  covenant  of  grace  to 
deliver  them  out  of  this  state  of  sin  and  misery  by  a 
Redeemer  ;  that  the  only  Redeemer  of  the  elect  is 
the  eternal  Son  of  God,  who  for  this  purpose  became 
man,  and  continues  to  be  God  and  man  in  two  distinct 
natures  and  one  person  forever  ;  that  Christ,  as  our 
Redeemer,  executeth  the  office  of  a  Prophet,  Priest, 
and  King  ;  that,  agreeably  to  the  covenant  of  redemp- 
tion, the  Son  of  God,  and  he  alone,  by  his  suffering 
and  death,  has  made  atonement  for  the  sins  of  all  men ; 
that  repentance,  faith,  and  holiness  are  the  personal  re- 
quisites in  the  Gospel  scheme  of  salvation  ;  that  the 
righteousness  of  Christ  is  the  only  ground  of  a  sin- 
ner's justification  ;  that  this  righteousness  is  received 
through  faith  ;  and  that  this  faith  is  the  gift  of  God  ; 
so  diat  our  salvation  is  wholly  of  grace  ;  that  no  means 
whatever  can  change  the  heart  of  a  sinner  and  make  b 


34 

holy  ;  that  regeneration  and  sanctification  are  effects  of 
the  creating  and  renewing  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  that  supreme  love  to  God  constitutes  the  essential 
difference  between  saints  and  sinners  ;  that  by  con- 
vincing us  of  our  sin  and  misery,  enlightening  our 
minds,  working  faith  in  us,  and  renewing  our  wills, 
the  Holy  Spirit  makes  us  partakers  of  the  benefits 
of  redemption  ;  and  that  the  ordinary  means,  by  which 
these  benefits  are  communicated  to  us,  are  the  word, 
sacraments,  and  prayer  ;  that  repentance  unto  life,  faith 
to  feed  upon  Christ,  love  to  God,  and  new  obedience, 
are  the  appropriate  qualifications  for  the  Lord's  sup- 
per ;  and  that  a  Christian  Church  ought  to  admit  no 
person  to  its  holy  communion,  before  he  exhibit  credi- 
ble evidence  of  his  godly  sincerity  ;  that  perseverance 
in  holiness  is  the  only  method  of  making  our  calling 
and  election  sure  ;  and  that  the  final  perseverance  of 
saints,  though  it  is  the  effect  of  the  special  operation 
of  God  on  their  hearts,  necessarily  implies  their  own 
watchful  diligence  ;  that  they,  who  are  effectually  cal- 
led, do  in  this  life  partake  of  justification,  adoption, 
and  sanctification,  and  the  several  benefits,  which  do 
either  accompany  or  flow  from  them  ;  that  the  souls 
of  believers  are  at  their  death  made  perfect  in  holiness, 
and  do  immediately  pass  into  glory  ;  that  their  bodies, 
being  still  united  to  Christ,  will  at  the  resurrection 
be  raised  up  to  glory,  and  that  the  saints  will  be  made 
perfectly  blessed  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  God  to  all 
eternity  ;  but  that  the  wicked  will  awake  to  shame  and 
everlasting  contempt,  and  with  devils  be  plunged  into 
the  lake,  that  burnetii  with  fire  and  brimstone  forever 


35 

and  ever.  I  moreover  believe  that  God,  according  to 
the  counsel  of  his  own  will,  and  for  his  own  glory,  hath 
foreordained  whatsoever  comes  to  pass,  and  that  all 
beings,  actions,  and  events  both  in  the  natural  and 
moral  world  are  under  his  providential  direction  ;  that 
God's  decrees  perfectly  consist  with  human  liberty  ; 
God's  universal  agency  with  the  agency  of  man  ;  and 
man's  dependence  with  his  accountability  ;  that  man 
has  understanding  and  corporeal  strength  to  do  all,  that 
God  requires  of  him ;  so  that  nothing,  but  the  sinner's 
aversion  to  holiness,  prevents  his  salvation  ;  that  it  is 
the  prerogative  of  God  to  bring  good  out  of  evil,  and 
that  he  will  cause  the  wrath  and  rage  of  wicked  men 
and  devils  to  praise  him  ;  and  that  all  the  evil,  which 
has  existed,  and  which  will  forever  exist  in  the  moral 
system,  will  eventually  be  made  to  promote  a  most 
important  purpose  under  the  wise  and  perfect  adminis- 
tration of  that  Almighty  Being,  who  will  cause  all 
things  to  work  for  his  own  glory,  and  thus  fulfil  all  his 
pleasure.' 

Second.  That  the  trust  aforesaid  may  be  always 
executed  agreeably  to  the  true  intent  of  our  said  Foun- 
dation ;  and  that  we  may  effectually  guard  the  same, 
in  all  future  time,  against  all  perversion,  or  the  smal- 
lest avoidance  of  our  true  design,  as  therein  expres- 
sed— We  do  hereby  constitute  a  Board  of  Visitors, 
to  be,  as  in  our  place  and  stead,  the  Guardians,  Over- 
seers, and  Protectors  of  our  said  Foundation,  in  man- 
ner, as  is  expressed  in  the  following  provisions,  that  is 
to  say,  we  appoint  and  constitute  the  Honorable  Caleb 
Strong  Esquire  late  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth 


36 

of  Massachusetts,  the  Reverend  Timothy  Dwight 
D.  D.  President  of  Yale  College,  and  the  Reverend 
Samuel  Spring  of  Newburyport  Doctor  of  Divinity, 
Visitors  of  the  said  Foundation  ;  who  with  their 
successors  in  office,  to  be  chosen  as  herein  after  di- 
rected, shall  be  a  perpetual  body  for  this  purpose,  with 
all  the  powers  and  duties  in  them  herein  vested,  and  on 
them  enjoined  ;  but  we  do  nevertheless  reserve  to 
Samuel  Abbot,  one  of  the  subscribers,  the  right  of 
visiting,  in  connexion  with  the  said  Board,  and  during 
his  natural  life,  the  said  Foundation ;  and  we  do  more- 
over confer  on  Moses  Brown  and  William  Bart- 
let  Esquires  of  Newbury  Port,  and  the  Honorable 
John  Norris  Esquire  of  Salem,  the  Associate  Foun- 
ders above  named,  the  right  of  visiting  the  said  Foun- 
dation in  the  same  manner  with  the  said  Samuel  Ab- 
bot, during  their  natural  lives  respectively  ;  each  of 
the  said  four  Founders  so  long,  as  he  shall  retain  his 
seat  at  the  Board,  shall  possess  and  exercise  all  the 
rights  and  powers,  herein  given  to  a  Visitor  of  the  said 
Foundation  ;  though  upon  the  resignation  or  demise 
of  either  of  the  said  Founders,  his  place  shall  not  be 
supplied  by  election  of  a  Visitor  to  succeed  him ;  and, 
after  the  demise  or  resignation  of  the  said  four  persons, 
last  above  named  as  Founders,  the  said  Board  shall 
never  consist  of  more  than  three  members  ;  and  it  is 
farther  expressly  provided,  that  the  perpetual  Board  of 
Visitors,  first  herein  named,  shall  consist  of  two  Cler- 
gymen and  one  Layman,  all  of  whom  shall  be  men  of 
distinguished  talents  and  piety. 


37 

Third.  We  do  farther  provide  and  ordain,  that 
no  person  shall  be  eligible,  as  a  Visitor,  under  the  age 
of  forty  years  ;  nor  shall  any  person,  except  the  seven 
herein  just  named,  hold  the  office  of  Visitor  after  the 
age  of  seventy  years  ;  and  whenever,  with  the  excep- 
tion aforesaid,  any  Visitor  shall  have  completed  the 
sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  the  Board  shall,  within  the 
year  next  ensuing,  choose  some  suitable  person  to  suc- 
ceed him  ;  but  the  Visitor  elect  shall  not  take  his  seat 
at  the  Board,  before  his  said  Predecessor  shall  have 
completed  his  seventieth  year,  or  formally  resigned  his 
office  of  Visitor  ;  and  no  resignation  of  any  member 
at  an  earlier  age  shall  be  accepted  by  this  Board,  be- 
fore a  Successor  shall  have  been  chosen. 

Fourth.  The  Board  of  Visitors  shall  meet  on  the 
seventeenth  day  of  May  current  at  Andover,  and  ever 
after  once  in  every  year  at  the  aforesaid  Theological 
Institution,  to  execute  the  business  of  their  appoint- 
ment, on  such  day,  as  they  shall  assign  ;  also  upon 
emergencies,  when  called  thereto,  as  herein  after  di- 
rected ;  and  a  majority  of  the  Visitors,  when  regularly 
convened,  shall  be  a  Quorum,  of  which  Quorum  a 
major  part  shall  have  power  to  transact  the  business  of 
their  Commission,  and  in  case  of  an  equivote,  the  ques- 
tion shall  determine  on  that  side,  on  which  the  presid- 
ing member  shall  have  voted. 

Fifth.  There  shall  be  annually  chosen  by  ballot 
a  President  and  Secretary,  as  officers  of  the  Board  out 
of  their  own  number,  who  shall  continue  in  their  res- 
pective offices,  till  their  places  be  supplied   by  new 


38 

elections,  and  upon  the  decease  of  either  of'  them,  an- 
other shall  be  chosen  in  his  room  at  the  next  meeting. 

Sixth.  The  President,  or  in  case  of  his  death,  re- 
signation, or  absence  from  the  country,  the  Secretary 
shall,  upon  all  necessary  occasions,  call  special  meet- 
ings of  the  Board  ;  and  his  notifications  shall  express 
the  business  to  be  transacted  at  such  meetings,  and  be 
given  as  early  as  possible  ;  and  in  the  absence  of  the 
President,  at  any  meeting,  the  Secretary  shall  preside. 

Seventh.  The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  fair  record 
of  all  the  transactions  of  the  Visitors  at  every  meeting 
of  the  Board,  inserting  the  names  of  the  members  pre- 
sent ;  and  in  his  absence  another  shall  be  appointed  in 
his  room. 

Eighth.  The  Visitors  shall  remove  any  member 
of  their  Board  for  immorality,  incapacity,  or  signal 
neglect  of  duty. 

Ninth.  Upon  the  death,  resignation,  or  removal 
of  a  Visitor,  (except  only  upon  the  demise  or  resigna- 
tion of  a  Founder)  the  Board  of  Visitors  shall  at  their 
next  meeting,  by  ballot,  elect  another  in  his  stead ;  and 
ever  after  from  time  to  time,  as  a  vacancy  shall  take 
place  in  this  Board,  they  shall  supply  it  ;  and  every 
person  so  elected,  previously  to  his  taking  his  seat  at 
the  Board,  shall  make  and  subscribe  the  following  De- 
claration, namely  ;  "  Approving  the  Constitution  of  the 
"  Theological  Institution,  I  solemnly  declare  in  the 
"  presence  of  God  and  of  this  Board,  that  I  will  faith- 
tl  fully  exert  my  abilities  to  carry  into  execution  the 
"  Regulations  therein  contained,  and  to  promote  the 
"  great  object  of  the  Institution  ;" — And  he  shall  more- 


39 

over  in  like  manner  subscribe  the  same  theological 
Creed,  which  every  Professor  elect  is  required  to  sub- 
scribe ;  and  a  declaration  of  his  faith  in  the  same  Creed 
shall  be  repeated  by  him  at  every  successive  period  of 
live  years  ;  and,  if  in  the  course  of  events  the  number 
of  Visitors  shall,  by  any  special  providence  of  God,  be 
reduced  to  one,  the  remaining  Visitor  shall  have  power 
to  appoint  one  suitable  person  to  be  a  Visitor  of  the 
said  Foundation  ;  and  these  two  Visitors  shall  at  their 
first  regular  meeting  supply  the  remaining  vacancy  in 
the  Board. 

Tenth.  The  power  and  duties  of  the  Board  of 
Visitors,  thus  constituted  and  organized,  shall  be,  as 
follows,  namely,  to  visit  the  said  Foundation  once  in 
every  year,  and  at  other  times,  when  regularly  called 
thereto  ;  to  inquire  into  the  state  of  the  said  fund  and 
the  management  of  the  said  Foundation  with  respect 
to  the  said  Professor  ;  to  determine,  interpret,  and  ex- 
plain the  statutes  of  the  said  Foundation  in  all  cases, 
brought  before  them  in  their  judicial  capacity  ;  to  re- 
dress grievances  with  respect  to  the  said  Professor  ;  to 
hear  appeals  from  decisions  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
and  to  remedy  upon  complaint,  duly  exhibited  in  be- 
half of  the  said  Professor  ;  to  review  and  reverse  any 
censure  passed  by  said  Trustees  upon  any  Professor 
on  said  Foundation  ;  to  declare  void  all  rules  and  re- 
gulations, made  by  the  said  Trustees,  relative  to  said 
Foundation,  which  may  be  inconsistent  with  the  origi- 
nal Statutes  thereof ;  to  take  care,  that  the  duties  of 
each  Professor  on  said  Foundation  be  intelligibly  and 
faithfully  discharged,  and  to  admonish  or  remove  him, 


40 

either  for  misbehaviour,  heterodoxy,  incapacity,  or 
neglect  of  the  duties  of  his  office  ;  and  in  general  to 
see  that  our  true  intentions  as  expressed  in  our  said 
Constitution  in  relation  to  said  Professor,  be  faithfully 
executed,  always  administering  justice  impartially,  and 
exercising  the  functions  of  their  office  in  the  fear  of 
God,  according  to  these  Regulations,  the  Provisions 
of  the  said  Constitution,  and  the  Laws  of  the  land. 

Eleventh.  Every  election  of  a  Professor  on  said 
Foundation  shall  within  ten  days  be  presented  to  the 
Visitors  ;  who  are  hereby  vested  with  the  power  and 
right  of  approving  or  negativing,  at  a  regular  meeting, 
every  such  election.  But,  if  any  such  election  be  not 
thus  either  approved  or  negatived  by  the  said  Visitors 
within  twelve  months  from  the  commencement  of  a 
vacancy  in  said  Professorship,  such  election  shall  be 
considered,  as  approved  by  the  Visitors,  and  shall  ac- 
cordingly be  deemed  constitutional  and  valid  ;  provid- 
ed always,  that  such  election  shall  have  been  regularly 
communicated  to  the  President  or  Secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Visitors  ten  days  at  least  previously  to  the 
expiration  of  the  twelve  months  aforesaid. 

Twelfth.  The  Board  of  Visitors  in  all  their  pro- 
ceedings are  to  be  subject  to  our  Statutes  herein  ex- 
pressed, and  to  those  contained  in  our  said  Constitu- 
tion, and  to  conform  their  measures  accordingly ;  and, 
if  they  shall  at  any  time  act  contrary  thereto,  or  exceed 
the  limits  of  their  jurisdiction  and  constitutional  power, 
the  party  aggrieved  may  have  recourse  by  appeal  to 
the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  of  this 
Commonwealth  for  the  time  being  for  remedy,  who 


41 

are  hereby  appointed  and  authorized  to  judge  in  such 
case,  and,  agreeably  to  the  determination  of  the  major 
part  of  them,  to  declare  null  and  void  any  decree  or 
sentence  of  the  said  Visitors,  which  upon  mature  con- 
sideration they  may  deem  contrary  to  the  said  Statutes, 
or  beyond  the  just  limits  of  their  power,  herein  pre- 
scribed ;  and  by  the  said  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Ju- 
dicial Court  for  the  time  being  shall  the  said  Board  of 
Visitors  at  all  times  be  subject  to  be  restrained  and 
corrected  in  the  undue  exercise  of  their  office. 

Thirteenth.  At  all  meetings  of  the  Visitors  de- 
cent entertainment  shall  be  made  by  direction  of  the 
Board,  and  at  the  expense  of  the  Foundation. 

Finally.     Commending  the  said  Institution  and 

all  concerned  in  the  management  thereof  to  the  blessing 

of  Heaven,  and  in  witness  of  what  is  contained  in  this 

and  the  preceding  pages,  we  hereunto  set  our  hands 

and  seals,  this  third  day  of  May  in  the  year  of  our 

Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight. 

SAMUEL  ABBOT,       (S.) 

PHCEBE  PHILLIPS,     (S.) 

JOHN  PHILLIPS,  Jun.  (S.) 

Signed,  sealed,  and  delivered 
in  presence  of  us, 

MOSES  WOOD, 

AMOS  BLANCHARD. 


PREFACE  OF  THE  ASSOCIATE  STATUTES. 


The  interesting  object  now  before  us  requires  serious 
and  impartial  consideration.  The  open  volume  of  na- 
ture is  full  of  divine  instruction  ;  but,  destitute  of  the 
more  luminous  volume  of  inspiration,  the  whole  world 
must  have  remained  in  pagan  darkness  and  supersti- 
tion. Both  the  present  and  past  state  of  heathen  na- 
tions manifestly  evinces  the  necessity  of  special  revela- 
tion. It  is  the  word  of  God  ;  it  is  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  which  in  the  course  of  divine  administration 
makes  the  moral  difference  between  rude  pagans  and 
devout  Christians.  What  benevolent  mind,  while  con- 
templating the  superior  advantages  of  the  church,  does 
not  weep  over  the  millions  of  ignorant  men,  who  are 
perishing  for  lack  of  vision  ?  What  Christian  does  not 
commisserate  the  destitute  in  all  sections  of  the  globe, 
and  devoutly  pray  that,  agreeably  to  Christ's  injunc- 
tion, the  gospel  may  soon  be  preached  to  every  crea- 
ture ?  How  long,  alas,  shall  the  greatest  part  of  the 
human  race  remain  unacquainted  with  the  gospel  ! 
How  long  shall  they  continue  unbelievers  !  "  But  how 
shall  they  believe  in  him,  of  whom  they  have  not 
heard  ?  And  how  shall  they  hear  without  a  preacher  ? 
And  how  shall  they  preach,  except  they  be  sent  ?" 
And  how  can  preachers  be  consistently  sent?  unless 


44 

properly  qualified  ?    And,  at  this  day  of  increasing  er- 
ror and  delusion,  how  can  they  acquire  proper  qualifi- 
cations to  stem  the  torrent  of  infidelity  and  corruption, 
unless  furnished  with  greater  theological  advantages, 
than  have  been  generally  enjoyed  in  our  country  ?  The 
numerous  obstacles,  which  some  eminent  men  have 
laboriously  surmounted,  in  qualifying  themselves  for 
the  sacred  office,  and  the  numerous  difficulties,  which 
Others  have  been  unable  to  remove,  present  a  powerful 
argument  for  the  establishment  of  a  Theological  Insti- 
tution.    The  church  at  this  day  of  boasted  light,  though 
in  reality  a  day  of  great  moral  darkness,  spreads  forth 
her  trembling  hands,  and  in  plaintive  accents  asks  for 
help.     She  greatly  needs  and  urgently  requests  more 
able  candidates,  missionaries,  and  pastors  ;  and  shall 
her  pressing  request,  supported  by  the  Lord  of  the 
harvest,  be  disregarded  ?    Is  it  not  an  impressive,  hu- 
miliating consideration,  that  many  young  men  are  in- 
ducted into  the  sacred  office,  who  are  furnished  with 
much  less  appropriate  information,  than  is  reputable, 
or  admissible  in  the  other  learned  professions  ?  To  the 
lasting  honor  of  the  bar  and  of  the  medical  faculty  they 
neither  admit,  nor  recognize  any,  except  men  of  talents 
and  erudition.     Property  and  health  are  deemed  too 
precious  to  be  trusted  in  the  hands  of  weakness  or 
ignorance.     But  what  is  the  value  of  property,  health, 
or  life,  compared  with  that  of  immortal  souls  ?    Alas, 
shall  the  pulpit  sigh  and  groan  ?    Shall  infidels  sneer 
and  triumph  ?  And  shall  Satan  take  advantage  of  heed- 
less sinners,  because  authorised  teachers  depreciate  the 
gospel  by  their  inability   to  defend  it  ?   God  forbid  ! 


45 

The  priests'  lips  should  keep  knowledge,  and  the  am- 
bassadors of  Christ  in  their  official  capacity  ought  not 
to  be  inferior  to  the  ambassadors  of  temporal  princes. 
Their  office  is  sacred,  and  involves  much  higher  res- 
ponsibility.    They  plead  and  administer  for  Christ 
and  immortal  souls.     They  stand  between  heaven  and 
earth,  and  must  be  qualified  to  honor  God  by  correct- 
ly delivering  his  message  to  man.      Who  is  sufficient 
for  these  things  ?  Who  can  render  to  God  the  things, 
that  are  God's,  and  rightly  divide  the  word  of  truth  to 
the  different  classes  of  men,  unless  properly  qualified  ? 
But  by  what  eligible,  effectual  measure  can  ministerial 
and  evangelical  influence  be  reclaimed  and  supported  ? 
How  can  devout  candidates  most  successfully  acquire 
theological  reputation  ?   By  what  means  can  they  be 
qualified  to  magnify  the  pastoral  office  ?    The  question 
is  highly  interesting  to  Zion  and  the  souls  of  men. 
The  answer  is  ready,  if  not  anticipated.     By  gratuitous 
theological  establishments  they  must  have  ample  op- 
portunity and  advantages  to  pursue  their  studies.     Up- 
on due  reflection  this  appears  a  correct  expedient,  and 
the  best  measure,  that  can  be  adopted  at  the  present 
day.     Merely  to  glance  at  the  deep  and  sublime  things 
of  divinity  six  months,  or  a  year,  is  not  sufficient  to 
qualify  young  men  for  the  gospel  ministry.     To  fill 
the  pastoral  office  with  dignity  and  utility,  by  wisely 
unfolding  and  applying  the  truth  to  saints  and  sinners, 
much  previous  study  and  information   are   requisite. 
Three  years  unwearied  application  to  theology,  which 
is  only  half  the  term  required  by  the  church  of  Scot- 
land,  is   barely  sufficient.      The   extensive   field   of 


46 

divinity,  so  full  of  hidden  treasures,  cannot  be  duly 
explored  by  young  men  of  piety  and  ability  within  a 
shorter  term.  And  what  youth,  of  genius  and  grace 
can  more  profitably  employ  his  time  ?  No  considerate 
young  man,  who  wishes  to  spend  his  life  in  dispensing 
truth  to  others,  will  think  three  years  too  long  for  lay- 
ing the  foundation  of  theological  science.  To  those, 
who  desire  to  excel  in  doing  good,  the  term  will  ap- 
pear but  a.few  days. 

The  common  embarrassments  of  theological  Stu- 
dents, the  pressing  and  imperious  demand  for  qualified 
laborers  to  reap  the  extensive  and  increasing  harvest, 
which  opens  before  us,  compel  us  to  contemplate  the 
necessity  and  utility  of  a  gratuitous  theological  Institu- 
tion. To  raise  up  a  long  and  uninterrupted  succession 
of  able,  devout  ministers  for  the  defense  of  the  gos- 
pel, to  adorn  the  church,  and  to  honor  Christ,  by 
cooperating  with  him  in  reclaiming  sinners,  is  the  true 
design  of  the  Institution. 

Motives  to  unite  the  hearts  of  all  devout  and  orthodox 
men  in  promoting  the  interest  of  the  Institution  are 
numerous.  The  daring  strides,  made  at  the  present 
day  by  infidels  and  other  erroneous  men  ;  the  urgent 
necessity  of  a  learned  and  pious  ministry,  to  check  and 
countervail  their  dangerous  influence,  is  no  inferior 
motive  to  combine  the  efforts  of  all  the  faithful.  But 
there  are  other  considerations  equally  impressive.  For 
is  it  not  worthy  of  grateful  notice,  that  the  concurrent 
events  of  the  present  period  induce  a  belief,  that  the 
set  time  to  build  up  Zion  is  at  hand  ?  If  we  do  not 
greatly  mistake  the  import  of  prophecy  and  correspond- 


47 

ing  events,  we  live  near  the  termination  of  the  dark- 
ness, which  has  long  enveloped  the  church  and  the 
world  ;  and  as  near  the  commencement  of  Zion's 
permanent  prosperity  and  glory.  The  numerous  mis- 
sionary and  humane  Institutions,  lately  established  and 
crowned  with  signal  success,  are  indications,  that 
Christ  is  preparing  the  way  for  the  millenial  ex- 
pression of  his  benevolence.  Shall  we  therefore  see 
his  star  in  the  east  ?  Shall  we  behold  the  glorious  Re- 
deemer coming  to  collect  the  precious  fruits  of  the 
cross  ?  Shall  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  call  for  able  and 
faithful  laborers  ;  and  shall  we  not  concur  with  his 
gracious  requisition  ?  Surely  a  wide  and  effectual  door 
is  open  to  do  good.  And  shall  we  disregard  the  mani- 
fest call  of  Providence  ?  If  we  withhold  our  exertions, 
deliverance  will  arise  to  the  church  from  some  other 
quarter  ;  for  God  will  build  up  Zion,  and  appear  in 
his  glory. 

The  Theological  Institution  we  consider,  as  the  re- 
sidence of  Christian  love  and  harmony,  and  the  resi- 
dence, we  hope,  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  who  will 
make  it  a  light  of  the  church,  and  a  distinguished  lu- 
minary in  our  hemisphere. 

Finally,  while  we  survey  the  gloomy  state  of  the 
church  and  the  world,  in  connexion  with  the  numerous 
embarrassments  and  disadvantages,  under  which  theo- 
logical students  labor,  while  qualifying  themselves  for 
the  ministry ;  we  cannot  but  hail  the  rising  Institution ; 
which  will  afford  the  indigent  opportunity  to  pursue 
their  studies  several  years  without  expense  ;  and  will 
readily  embrace  those,  who  choose  to  defray  the  ex- 


48 

pense  of  their  theological  education.  Under  the  pat- 
ronage of  Christ,  to  whom  the  Institution  is  dedicat- 
ed, we  cannot  but  entertain  a  pleasing  hope,  that  it 
will  flourish  ;  and  that  it  will  meet  the  cordial  appro- 
bation of  well  informed  Christians,  and  realize  the  in- 
effable benefit  of  their  devout  and  persevering  prayers. 


THE 

STATUTES 

OF    THE 

ASSOCIATE    FOUNDATION 

IN    THE 

THEOLOGICAL  INSTITUTION 

IN 

AN  DOVER. 


Seriously  reflecting  upon  the  fatal  effects  of  the 
apostasy  of  man  without  a  Savior,  on  the  merciful  ob- 
ject of  the  Son  of  God  in  assuming  our  nature  and 
dying  for  our  salvation,  and  upon  the  wisdom  of  his 
appointment  of  an  order  of  men  to  preach  his  Gospel 
in  the  world  ;  considering  also  that,  notwithstanding 
this  appointment,  by  far  the  greatest  part  of  the  human 
race  is  still  perishing  for  lack  of  vision,  and  that  even 
in  countries,  where  the  Gospel  is  enjoyed,  infidelity, 
error,  and  immorality  greatly  abound  ;  feeling  it  to  be 
our  duty  to  conspire  with  the  benevolent  design  of  this 
appointment,  and  being  desirous  of  contributing  ac- 
cording to  our  ability  toward  its  success,  and  of  ex- 
pressing in  this  imperfect  manner  our  sense  of  obliga- 
tion to  our  compassionate  Redeemer  ;  We,  Moses 
Brown  and  William  Bartlet,  both  of  Newbury 
Port,  Merchants,  and  John  Norris  of  Salem  Esquire, 


50 

all  of  the  County  of  Essex  and  Commonwealth  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, being  influenced,  as  we  hope,  by  a  princir 
pie  of  gratitude  to  God  and  benevolence  to  man,  have 
determined  to  devote  a  part  of   the  substance,  with 
which  Heaven  has  blessed  us,  to  the  defense  and  pro- 
motion of  the  Christian  Religion,  by  making  some 
provision  for  increasing  the  number  of  learned  and  able 
Defenders  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ  as  well,  as  of  or- 
thodox, pious,  and  zealous  Ministers  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament ;  and  we  do  accordingly  hereby  give,  assign, 
and  setovertothe  Trustees  ofPHiLLiPs  Academy, 
and  to  their  successors  in  office,  the  sum  of  ten  thou- 
sand dollars  each,  amounting  to   thirty  thousand  dol- 
lars;    to  which  sum  I  William  Bartlet  add  the 
farther  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars,*  for  the  purpose 
of  supporting  one  of  the  two  Professors,  herein  after 
named,  the  whole  amounting  to  forty  thousand  dollars, 
in  Sacred  Trust,  as  a  capital  Fund,  to  be  disposed 
of  in  the  manner  and  for  the  purposes  following  ;  that 
is  to  say,  the  said  sum  of  money  to  be  kept  out  at  in- 
terest on  good  security,  or  otherwise  in  whole  or  in 
part  vested,  as  the  said  Trustees  shall  deem  best,  in 
productive  real  estate,  or  in  sure  and  permanent  funds  ; 
and  the  interest  or  annual  income  of  said  capital  Fund 
to  be  applied  to  the  maintenance  of  two  Professors  in 
the  Theological  Institution  or  Seminary,  late- 
ly founded  in  the  Town  of  Andover,  and  County  afore- 
said ;  who  shall,  agreeably  to  the  permanent  Creed, 
herein  after  mentioned,  faithfully  teach  that  revealed 

*  To  this  sum  an  addition  of  ten  thousand  dollars  has  been  made  by 
the  Founder  since  the  execution  of  these  Statutes. 


51 

Holy  Religion  only,  which  God  constantly  teaches  man 
by  his  glorious  works  of  Creation,  Providence,  and 
Redemption  ;  whose  professional  duties  shall  be  as- 
signed, according  to  the  Constitution  of  the  Seminary, 
in  such  manner,  as  shall  most  directly  and  effectually 
promote  the  great  object  of  the  Institution  ;  reserv- 
ing to  ourselves  the  right  jointly  to  make  the  first  ap- 
pointment of  one  of  the  said  Professors,  and  to  the  said 
William  Bartlet  severally,  the  right  to  make  the 
first  appointment  of  the  other  of  the  said  Professors  ; 
and  also  toward  the  maintenance  of  such  Students  in 
Divinity,  as  may  be  proper  candidates  for  gratuitous 
support,  and  shall  be  approved  and  recommended  by 
the  Board  of  Visitors,  herein  after  constituted,  or  by  a 
committee  of  their  appointment,  agreeably  to  the  fol- 
lowing Statutes,  namely, 

First.  The  Fund  aforesaid  shall  be  kept  distinct 
from  all  other  property,  to  the  same  Trustees  belong- 
ing, being  never  blended  therewith  by  loan  or  purchase ; 
and  their  Treasurer  shall  accordingly  keep  all  accounts 
relative  thereto  in  distinct  books,  and  all  monies,  evi- 
dences of  property,  receipts,  papers,  and  books  of  ac- 
count, appertaining  to  said  Fund,  in  a  trunk,  or  chest, 
prepared  for  prompt  removal. 

Second.  Every  Professor  on  the  Associate 
Foundation  shall  be  a  Master  of  Arts,  of  the  Pro- 
testant Reformed  Religion,  an  ordained  Minister  of  the 
Congregational  or  Presbyterian  denomination,  and  shall 
sustain  the  character  of  a  discreet,  honest,  learned,  and 
devout  Christian  ;  an  orthodox  and  consistent  Calvin- 
ist  ;  and,  after  a  careful  examination  by  the  Visitors 


52 

with  reference  to  his  religious  principles,  he  shall,  on 
the  day  of  his  inauguration,  publicly  make  and  sub- 
scribe a  solemn  declaration  of  his  faith  in  Divine  Re- 
velation, and  in  the  fundamental  and  distinguishing 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  as  expressed  in  the  following 
Creed,  which  is  supported  by  the  infallible  Revelation, 
which  God  constantly  makes  of  Himself  in  his  works 
of  creation,  providence,  and  redemption  ;  namely, 

I  believe  that  there  is  one  and  but  one  living  and  true 
Gon  ;  that  the  word  of  God,  contained  in  the  Scrip- 
tures of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  is  the  only  per- 
fect rule  of  faith  and  practice  ;  that  agreeably  to  those 
Scriptures  God  is  a  Spirit,  infinite,  eternal,  and  un- 
changeable in  his  being,  wisdom,  power,  holiness,  jus- 
tice, goodness,  and  truth  ;  that  in  the  Godhead  are 
three  Persons,  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost  ;  am!  that  these  Three  are  One  God,  the 
same  in  substance,  equal  in  power  and  glory  ;  that 
God  created  man  after  his  own  image  in  knowledge, 
righteousness,  and  holiness  ;  that  the  glory  of  God  is 
man's  chief  end,  and  the  enjoyment  of  God  his  su- 
preme happiness  ;  that  this  enjoyment  is  derived  solely 
from  conformity  of  heart  to  the  moral  character  and 
will  of  God  ;  that  Adam,  the  federal  head  and  repre- 
sentative of  the  human  race,  was  placed  in  a  state  of 
probation,  and  that  in  consequence  of  his  disobedience 
all  his  descendants  were  constituted  sinners  ;  that  by 
nature  every  man  is  personally  depraved,  destitute  of 
holiness,  unlike  and  opposed  to  God,  and  that  pre- 
viously to  the  renewing  agency  of  the  Divine  Spirit 
all  his  moral  actions  are  adverse  to  the  character  and 


53 

glory  of  God  ;  that,  being  morally  incapable  of  re- 
covering the  image  of  his  Creator,  which  was  lost  in 
Adam,  every  man  is  justly  exposed  to  eternal  damna- 
tion ;  so  that,  except  a  man  be  born  again,  he  cannot 
see  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  that  God,  of  his  mere  good 
pleasure,  from  all  eternity  elected  some  to  everlasting 
life,  and  that  he  entered  into  a  covenant  of  grace  to 
deliver  them  out  of  this  state  of  sin  and  misery  by  a 
Redeemer  ;  that  the  only  Redeemer  of  the  elect  is 
the  eternal  Son  of  God,  who  for  this  purpose  became 
man,  and  continues  to  be  God  and  man  in  two  distinct 
natures  and  one  person  forever  ;  that  Christ,  as  our 
Redeemer,  executeth  the  office  of  a  Prophet,  Priest, 
and  King  ;  that,  agreeably  to  the  covenant  of  redemp- 
tion, the  Son  of  God,  and  he  alone,  by  his  suffering 
and  death,  has  made  atonement  for  the  sins  of  all  men ; 
that  repentance,  faith,  and  holiness  are  the  personal  re- 
quisites in  the  Gospel  scheme  of  salvation  ;  that  the 
righteousness  of  Christ  is  the  only  ground  of  a  sin- 
ner's justification  ;  that  this  righteousness  is  received 
through  faith  ;  and  that  this  faith  is  the  gift  of  God  ; 
so  that  our  salvation  is  wholly  of  grace  ;  that  no  means 
whatever  can  change  the  heart  of  a  sinner  and  make  it 
holy  ;  that  regeneration  and  sanctification  are  effects  of 
the  creating  and  renewing  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  that  supreme  love  to  God  constitutes  the  essential 
difference  between  saints  and  sinners  ;  that  by  con- 
vincing us  of  our  sin  and  misery,  enlightening  our 
minds,  working  faith  in  us,  and  renewing  our  wills, 
the  Holy  Spirit  makes  us  partakers  of  the  benefits 
of  redemption  ;  and  that  the  ordinary  means,  by  which 


54 

these  benefits  are  communicated  to  us,  are  the  word, 
sacraments,  and  pra)- er ;  that  repentance  unto  life,  faith 
to  feed  upon  Christ,  love  to  God,  and  new  obedience, 
are  the  appropriate  qualifications  for  the  Lord's  sup- 
per ;  and  that  a  Christian  Church  ought  to  admit  no 
person  to  its  holy  communion,  before  he  exhibit  credi- 
ble evidence  of  his  godly  sincerity  ;  that  perseverance 
in  holiness  is  the  only  method  of  making  our  calling 
and  election  sure  ;  and  that  the  final  perseverance  of 
saints,  though  it  is  the  effect  of  the  special  operation 
of  God  on  their  hearts,  necessarily  implies  their  own 
watchful  diligence  ;  that  they,  who  are  effectually  cal- 
led, do  in  this  life  partake  of  justification,  adoption, 
and  sanctification,  and  the  several  benefits,  which  do 
either  accompany  or  flow  from  them  ;  that  the  souls 
of  believers  are  at  their  death  made  perfect  in  holiness, 
and  do  immediately  pass  into  glory  ;  that  their  bodies, 
being  still  united  to  Christ,  will  at  the  resurrection 
be  raised  up  to  glory,  and  that  the  saints  will  be  made 
perfectly  blessed  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  God  to  all 
eternity  ;  but  that  the  wicked  will  awake  to  shame  and 
everlasting  contempt,  and  with  devils  be  plunged  into 
the  lake,  that  burnetii  with  fire  and  brimstone  forever 
and  ever.  I  moreover  believe  that  God,  according  to 
the  counsel  of  his  own  will,  and  for  his  own  glory,  hath 
foreordained  whatsoever  comes  to  pass,  and  that  all 
beings,  actions,  and  events,  both  in  the  natural  and 
moral  world,  are  under- his  providential  direction  ;  that 
God's  decrees  perfectly  consist  with  human  liberty  ; 
God's  universal  agency  with  the  agency  of  man  ;  and 
man's  dependence  with  his  accountability  ;  that  man 


55 

has  understanding  and  corporeal  strength  to  do  all,  that 
God  requires  of  him  ;  so  that  nothing,  but  the  sinner's 
aversion  to  holiness,  prevents  his  salvation  ;  that  it  is 
the  prerogative  of  Go  d  to  bring  good  out  of  evil,  and 
that  he  will  cause  the  wrath  and  rage  of  wicked  men 
and  devils  to  praise  him  ;  and  that  all  the  evil,  which 
has  existed,  and  which  will  forever  exist  in  the  moral 
system,  will  eventually  be  made  to  promote  a  most 
important  purpose  under  the  wise  and  perfect  adminis- 
tration of  that  Almighty  Being,  who  will  cause  all 
things  to  work  for  his  own  glory,  and  thus  fulfil  all   his 
pleasure. — And  farthermore  I  do  solemnly  promise  that 
I  will  open  and  explain  the  Scriptures  to  my  pupils 
with  integrity  and  faithfulness  ;    that  I  will  maintain 
and  inculcate  the  Christian  faith,  as  expressed  in  the 
Creed,  by  me  now  repeated,  together  with  all  the  other 
doctrines  and  duties  of  our  holy  religion,  so  far  as  may 
appertain  to  my  office,  according  to  the  best  light,  God 
shall  give  me,  and  in  opposition,  not  only  to  Atheists 
and  Infidels,  but  to  Jews,  Papists,  Mahometans,  Arians, 
Pelagians,    Antinomians,    Arminians,    Socinians,    Sa- 
bellians,  Unitarians,    and    Universalists,    and    to    all 
heresies  and  errors,  antient  or  modem,  which  may  be 
opposed  to  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  or  hazardous  to  the 
souls  of  men  ;    that  by  my  instruction,  counsel,  and 
example,  I  will  endeavour  to  promote  true  Piety  and 
Godliness  ;  that  I  will  consult  the  good  of  this  Institu- 
tion, and  the  peace  of  the  Churches  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  on  all  occasions  ;  and  that  I  will  religiously  con- 
form to  the  Constitution  and  Laws  of  this  Seminary, 
and  to  the  Statutes  of  this  Foundation. 


56 

Third.  The  preceding  Creed  and  Declaration  shall 
be  repeated  by  every  Professor  on  this  Foundation  at 
the  expiration  of  every  successive  period  of  five  years ; 
and  no  man  shall  be  continued  a  Professor  on  said 
Foundation,  who  shall  not  continue  to  approve  himself 
a  man  of  sound  and  orthodox  principles  in  Divinity 
agreeably  to  the  aforesaid  Creed. 

Fourth.  Professors  on  this  Foundation  shall  be 
allowed  an  honorable  maintenance,  regulated,  as  cir- 
cumstances may  require,  by  the  current  prices  of  the 
necessaries  of  life,  agreeably  to  original  contract. 

Fifth.  It  is  required,  that  every  public  lecture  be 
preceded  and  followed  by  prayer  ;  that  the  Associate 
Professors  in  their  preaching  to  the  Students  of  the 
Institution  on  the  Lord's  Day  be  devout,  practical, 
doctrinal,  and  pungent,  rather  than  speculative  and 
metaphysical  ;  and  no  Professor  on  this  Foundation 
shall  ever  preach  for  hire,  or  take  the  pastoral  charge 
of  any  church  or  congregation.  And  it  is  farthermore 
expected,  that  the  Professors  on  this  Foundation  will 
faithfully  devote  their  time  and  talents,  to  qualify  their 
pupils  for  able  ministers  of  the  Gospel.  Beside,  there- 
fore, guiding  them  in  the  peaceful  ways  of  wisdom  and 
discretion  by  christian  precept  and  example,  directing 
the  course  of  their  reading  the  Scriptures  and  other  in- 
structive books,  critically  inspecting  and  correcting 
their  theological  compositions,  and  teaching  them  the 
appropriate  style  and  manner  of  pulpit  address,  it  is 
confidently  expected,  that  the  Professors  confer  with 
them  freely  and  frequently  on  those  subjects,  which  are 
calculated  to  expand  and  enrich  the  minds  and  hearts 


57 

of  theological  Students,  and  prepare  them  for  the  work 
of  the  Ministry. 

Sixth.  Upon  the  death,  resignation,  or  removal  of 
a  Professor  on  this  Foundation,  a  successor  shall  be 
chosen  by  the  Trustees  aforesaid  within  six  months, 
and  the  choice  presented  to  the  Visitors  for  their  appro- 
bation. But,  if  this  choice  be  negatived,  another  elec- 
tion shall  in  like  manner  be  presented,  and  toties  quoties, 
till  an  election  be  made,  which  shall  be  approved  by  the 
Visitors ;  and  this  within  twelve  months  from  the  com- 
mencement of  a  vacancy  in  either  of  the  said  Profes- 
sorships. 

Seventh.  AH  Applicants  for  the  advantages  of 
this  Foundation  shall  be  introduced  by  letters  of  recom- 
mendation from  devout  and  influential  characters,  and 
shall  exhibit  satisfactory  evidence  of  their  distinguish- 
ed abilities  and  gracious  sincerity  ;  and  by  an  exam- 
ination in  the  learned  languages  shall  evince  that  in 
these  respects  they  are  qualified  to  enter  upon  theologi- 
cal studies. 

Eighth.  Every  Applicant,  after  examination  by 
the  standing  Committee,  to  be  appointed  as  herein  af- 
ter provided,  and  after  reading  the  Constitution  of  the 
Seminary  and  the  Statutes  of  the  Associate  Founders, 
shall  make  and  subscribe  the  following  Declaration, 
viz,  '  Deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  of  an  ex- 
1  tensive  fund  of  knowledge  and  prudence  to  the  minis- 
'  terial  character,  and  of  being  correctly  instructed  in 
'the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  and  consequently  of  at 
*  tending  a  regular  course  of  theological  education,  1 
solemnly  promise,  by  the  aid  of  divine  grace,  to  Im- 


58 

c  prove  in  a  faithful  and  christian  manner  the  advanta- 
'  ges,  furnished  by  this  Institution  ;  and  to  be  uniiorm- 
'  ly  subject  to  the  authority  and  laws  of  the  same,  with 
'  a  single  view  to  my  being  qualified  for  the  Gospel 
'  Ministry.' 

Ninth.  Strict  and  devout  attention  to  the  Sabbath 
and  all  stated  solemnities  is  required  of  the  Associate 
Students  ;  and  every  neglect  of  the  means  of  grace  or 
religious  improvement  will  be  duly  noticed  by  the 
Professors. 

Tenth.  It  is  strictly  enjoined  upon  the  Associate 
Students,  to  treat  the  Professors,  Trustees,  and  Visitors 
with  due  respect  ;  and  each  other  and  all  persons  with 
friendship  and  decorum  ;  any  failure  in  these  and  simi- 
lar instances  will  be  deemed  censurable  ;  and,  if  per- 
sisted in,  a  forfeiture  of  the  privileges  of  the  Institu- 
tion. 

.  Eleventh.  Tuition  and  room  shall  be  gratis  to 
all  approved  Applicants  and  Students  on  this  Founda- 
tion ;  and  other  gratuitous  aid,  such  as  diet,  fuel,  light, 
washing,  and  lodging,  shall  be  granted  in  whole  or  in 
part,  according  to  the  direction  of  the  Visitors,  and  as 
the  state  of  the  said  Funds  may  permit  ;  and  no  Stu- 
dent in  the  Seminary  may  ever  be  charged  for  the  In- 
struction of  any  Professor  on  our  Foundation. 

Twelfth.  That  the  T  r  u  s  t  aforesaid  may  be  always 
executed  agreeably  to  the  true  intent  of  this  our  Foun- 
dation ;  and  that  we  may  effectually  guard  the  same 
in  all  future  time  against  all  perversion,  or  the  smal- 
lest avoidance  of  our  true  design,  as  herein  expres- 
sed ;  we,  the  aforesaid  Founders,  do  hereby  constitute 


59 

a  board  of  Visitors,  to  be  as  in  our  place  and  stead 
the  Guardians,  Overseers,  and  Protectors  of  this  our 
Foundation  in  manner,  as  is  expressed  in  the  follow- 
ing Provisions,  that  is  to  say,  We  appoint  and  consti- 
tute the  Honorable  Caleb  Strong  Esquire,  late  Gov- 
ernor of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  the 
Reverend  Timothy  Dwight  D.  D.  President  of 
Yale  College,  and  the  Reverend  Samuel  Spring  of 
Newbury  Port  aforesaid  Doctor  of  Divinity,  Visitors 
of  the  said  Foundation  ;  who,  with  their  successors  in 
office  to  be  chosen,  as  herein  after  directed,  shall  be  a 
perpetual  body  for  this  purpose,  with  all  the  powers  and 
duties  in  them  herein  vested  and  on  them  enjoined  ; 
but  we  do  nevertheless  reserve  to  ourselves  the  right 
of  visiting  in  connexion  with  the  said  Board,  and  dur- 
ing our  natural  lives  respectively,  this  our  Foundation. 
And  we  do  moreover  confer  on  Samuel  Abbot  Es- 
quire,* one  of  the  Founders  of  the  Theological  Insti- 
tution aforesaid,  the  right  of  visiting  this  our  Founda- 
tion in  the  same  manner  with  ourselves,  during  his  na- 
tural life  ;  each  of  the  said  four  Founders  so  long,  as 
he  shall  retain  his  seat  at  the  Board,  shall  possess  and 
exercise  all  the  rights  and  powers,  herein  given  to  a 
Visitor  of  this  Foundation  ;  though  upon  the  resigna- 
tion or  demise  of  either  of  the  said  Founders  his  place 
shall  not  be  supplied  by  election  of  a  Visitor  to  succeed 
him ;  and  after  the  demise  or  resignation  of  the  said 
four  persons,  last  above  named  as  Founders,  the  said 
Board  shall  never  consist  of  more  than  three  members  ; 

*  Who  had  previously  resigned  his  scat  at  the  Board  of  Tr  vstef.f 


60 

and  it  is  farther  expressly  provided,  that  the  perpetual 
Board  of  Visitors,  first  herein  named,  shall  consist  of 
two  Clergymen  and  one  Layman,  all  of  whom  shall  be 
men  of  distinguished  talents  and  piety. 

Thirteenth.  We  do  farther  provide  and  ordain  that 
no  person  shall  be  eligible,  as  a  Visitor,  under  the  age 
of  forty  years  ;  nor  shall  any  person,  except  the  seven 
herein  just  named,  hold  the .  office  of  Visitor  after  the 
age  of  seventy  years  ;  and  whenever,  with  the  excep- 
tion aforesaid,  any  Visitor  shall  have  completed  the 
sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  the  Board  shall,  within  the 
year  next  ensuing  choose  some  suitable  person  to  suc- 
ceed him  ;  but  the  Visitor  elect  shall  not  take  his  seat 
at  the  Board,  before  his  said  Predecessor  shall  have 
completed  his  seventieth  year,  or  formally  resigned  his 
office  of  Visitor  ;  and  no  resignation  of  any  member 
at  an  earlier  age  shall  be  accepted  by  this  Board,  be- 
fore a  Successor  shall  have  been  chosen. 

Fourteenth.  The  Board  of  Visitors  shall  meet  on 
the  seventeenth  day  of  May  next  at  Andover,  and  ever 
after,  once  in  every  year,  at  the  aforesaid  Theolog- 
ical Institution,  to  execute  the  business  of  their 
appointment,  on  such  day,  as  they  shall  assign  ;  also 
upon  emergencies,  when  called  thereto,  as  herein  after 
directed  ;  and  a  majority  of  the  Visitors,  when  regular- 
ly convened,  shall  be  a  Quorum,  of  which  Quorum  a 
major  part  shall  have  power  to  transact  the  business  of 
their  Commission ;  and  incase  of  an  equi-vote,  the  ques- 
tion shall  determine  on  that  side,  on  which  the  presid- 
ing member  shall  have  voted. 


61 

Fifteenth.  There  shall  be  annually  chosen,  b} 
ballot,  a  President  and  Secretary,  as  Officers  of  the 
Board,  out  of  their  own  number  ;  who  shall  continue 
in  their  respective  offices,  till  their  places  be  supplied 
by  new  elections  ;  and,  upon  the  decease  of  either  of 
them,  another  shall  be  chosen  in  his  room  at  the  next 
meeting. 

Sixteenth.  The  President,  or  in  case  of  his  death, 
resignation,  or  absence  from  the  country,  the  Secretary, 
shall,  upon  all  necessary  occasions,  call  special  meet- 
ings of  the  Board  ;  and  his  notifications  shall  express 
the  business  to  be  transacted  at  such  meetings,  and  be 
given  as  early  as  possible.  In  the  absence  of  the  Pre- 
sident, at  any  meeting,  the  Secretary  shall  preside. 

Seventeenth.  The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  fair  re- 
cord of  all  the  transactions  of  the  Visitors  at  every 
meeting  of  the  Board,  inserting  the  names  of  the  mem- 
bers present  ;  and  in  his  absence  another  shall  be  ap- 
pointed in  his  room. 

Eighteenth.  The  Visitors  shall  remove  any  Mem- 
ber of  their  Board  for  immorality,  incapacity,  or  ne- 
glect of  duty. 

Ninetee  nth.  Upon  the  death,  resignation,  or  re- 
moval of  a  Visitor,  except  only  upon  the  demise  or  re- 
signation of  a  Founder,  the  Board  of  Visitors  shall  at 
their  next  meeting,  by  ballot,  elect  another  in  his  stead ; 
and  ever  after,  from  time  to  time,  as  a  vacancy  shall  take 
place  in  this  Board,  they  shall  supply  it  ;  and  every 
person  so  elected,  previously  to  taking  his  seat  at  the 
Board,  shall  make  and  subscribe  the  following De c lar- 


62 

at  ion,  namely,  '  Approving  the  Statutes  of  the  afore- 
said Theological  Institution,  and  those  of  the  Asso- 
'  ciate  Founders,  I  solemnly  declare,  in  the  presence 
'of  God  and  of  this  Board,  that  I  will  faithfully  exert 

*  my  abilities  to  carry  into  execution  the  Statutes  of 

*  the  said  Founders,  and  to  promote  the  great  object 
1  of  the  Institution.'  And  he  shall  moreover  in  like 
manner  subscribe  the  same  theological  Creed,  which 
every  Professor  elect  is  required  to  subscribe  ;  and  a 
declaration  of  his  faith  in  the  same  Creed  shall  be  re- 
peated by  him  at  every  successive  period  of  five  years  ; 
and,  if  in  the  course  of  events  the  number  of  Visitors 
shall  by  any  special  providence  of  God  be  reduced  to 
one,  the  remaining  Visitor  shall  have  power  to  appoint 
one  suitable  person  to  be  a  Visitor  of  this  Foundation ; 
and  these  two  Visitors  shall  at  their  first  regular  meet- 
ing supply  the  remaining  vacancy  in  the  Board. 

Twentieth.  The  power  and  duties  of  the  Board 
of  Visitors,  thus  constituted  and  organized,  shall  be 
as  follows  ;  namely,  to  visit  the  Foundation  once  in 
every  year,  and  at  other  times,  when  regularly  called 
thereto  ;  to  inquire  into  the  state  of  this  our  Fund,  and 
the  management  of  this  Foundation  with  respect  both 
to  Professors  and  Students  ;  to  determine,  interpret, 
and  explain  the  Statutes  of  this  Foundation  in  all  cases, 
brought  before  them  in  their  judicial  capacity  ;  to  re- 
dress grievances  both  with  respect  to  Professors  and  Stu- 
dents ;  to  hear  appeals  from  decisions  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  and  to  remedy  upon  complaint,  duly  exhibit- 
ed in  behalf  of  the  said  Professors  or  Students  ;    to 


review  and  reverse  any  censure,  passed  by  said  Trus- 
tees upon  any  Professor  or  Student  on  this  Foundation ; 
to. declare  void  all  rules  and  regulations,  made  by   the 
said  Trustees,  relative  to  this  Foundation,  which  may  be 
inconsistent  with  the  original  Statutes  thereof ;  to  take 
care,  that  the  duties  of  every  Professor  on  this  Foun- 
dation be  intelligibly  and  faithfully  discharged,  and  to 
admonish  or  remove  him,  either  for  misbehaviour,  he- 
terodoxy,   incapacity,  or  neglect  of  the    duties  of  his 
office  ;  to  examine  into  the  proficiency  of  the  Students, 
and  to  admonish,  suspend,  or  deprive  any  Student  for 
negligence,  contumacy,  or  any  heinous  crime,  commit- 
ted against  the  laws  of  God   or  the  Statutes  of  this 
Foundation  ;  and  in  general,  to  see  that  our  true  in- 
tentions as  expressed  in  these  our  Statutes,  be  faithfully- 
executed,  always  administering  justice  impartially,  and 
exercising  the  functions  of  their  office  in  the  fear  of 
God,  according  to  the  said  Statutes,  the  Constitution 
of  this  Seminary,  and  the  Laws  of  the  land. 

Twenty-first.     Every  election  of  a  Professor  oh 

this  Foundation  shall  within  ten  days  be  presented  to 

the  Visitors,  who  are  hereby  vested  with  the  power  and 

right  of  approving  or  negativing,  at  a  regular  meeting, 

every  such  election.     But,  if  any  such  election  be  not 

'  either  approved  or  negatived   by   the    said    Visitors, 

within  twelve  months  from  the  commencement  of  a 

vacancy  in  any  Professorship,  such  election  shall  be 

considered,  as  approved  by  the  Visitors,  and  shall  ac-, 

cordinelv  be  deemed  constitutional  and  valid  ;  provid- 

ed  always,  that  such  election  shall  have  been  regularly 


64. 

communicated  to  the  President  or  Secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Visitors  ten  days  at  least  previously  to  the 
expiration  of  the  twelve  months  aforesaid. 

Twenty -second.  The  Visitors  shall  appoint  a 
standing  Committee,  to  ascertain  the  qualifications  of 
Applicants  for  the  advantages  of  this  Foundation. 
Those,  whom  they  approve,  may  be  recommended  for 
admission,  as  resident  Applicants  on  trial  for  two 
months  ;  and,  if  at  the  expiration  of  this  term  the  Fa- 
culty approve  them,  they  may  be  placed  on  the  list  of 
resident  Students,  till  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the 
Visitors  ;  and,  if  upon  examination  by  the  Board  of 
Visitors  they  be  then  approved,  they  shall  be  register- 
ed, as  Associate  Students  ;  but,  if  not  approved  by  the 
Visitors  after  careful  examination  and  the  best  infor- 
mation respecting  them,  they  shall  be  dismissed  from 
the  Foundation. 

Twenty-third.  No  Applicants,  except  Congre- 
gationalists  and  Presbyterians,  shall  be  admitted  upon 
this  Foundation  ; .  and  a  College  education  shall  be  ever 
deemed  an  essential  condition  of  admission,  except  on- 
ly in  some  rare  case  of  distinguished  talents,  informa- 
tion, and  piety. 

Twenty-fourth.  At  all  meetings  of  the  Visitors 
decent  entertainment  shall  be  made  by  the  direction  of 
the  Board,  and  at  the  expense  of  the  Foundation  ;  and 
all  other  necessary  expenses,  attending  the  management 
of  this  Foundation,  shall  be  defrayed  out  of  the  income 
of  the  said  Fund. 

Twenty-fifth.     The  Board  of  Visitors  in  all  their 


65 

proceedings  are  to  be  subject  to  our  Statutes  herein  ex- 
pressed, and  to  conform  their  measures  thereto  ;  and, 
if  they  shall  at  any  time  act  contrary  thereto,  or  exceed 
the  limits  of  their  jurisdiction  and  constitutional  power, 
the  party  aggrieved  may  have  recourse  by  appeal  to 
the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  of  this 
Commonwealth,  for  the  time  being,  for  remedy,  who 
are  hereby  appointed  and  authorized  to  judge  in  such 
case,  and,  agreeably  to  the  determination  of  the  major 
part  of  them,  to  declare  null  and  void  any  decree  or 
sentence  of,  the  said  Visitors,  which  upon  mature  con- 
sideration they  may  deem  contrary  to  the  said  Statutes, 
or  beyond  the  just  limits  of  their  power,  herein  pre- 
scribed ;  and  by  the  said  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Ju- 
dicial Court  for  the  time  being  shall  the  said  Board  of 
Visitors  at  all  times  be  subject  to  be  restrained  and 
corrected  in  the  undue  exercise  of  their  office. 

Twenty-sixth.  Every  annual  meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Visitors  shall  be  introduced  with  prayer,  after 
which  these  Statutes  shall  be  read  by  the  President. 

Twenty-seventh.  It  is  strictly  and  solemnly 
enjoined,  and  left  in  sacred  charge,  that  every  article 
of  the  above  said  Creed  shall  forever  remain  entirely 
and  identically  the  same,  without  the  least  alteration, 
addition,  or  diminution.  But  we  reserve  to  ourselves 
the  right,  as  Founders,  jointly  to  make,  in  concurrence 
with  the  said  Trustees,  and  within  the  term  of  seven 
years,  such  amendments  or  additional  articles,  in  per- 
fect consistence  with  the  true  object  of  these  Statutes, 
as  upon  experience  and  due  consideration  shall  be  deem- 


66 

ed  necessary  the  more  effectually  to  secure  and  pro- 
mote the  real  design  of  this  our  Foundation. 

Twenty-eighth.  Though  the  Founders,  first 
above  named,  coalesce  with  the  Founders  of  the  afore- 
said Theological  Institution,  in  the  manner 
herein  described,  with  a  view  more  effectually  to  pro- 
mote the  cause  of  Evangelical  Truth,  and  with  an  ar- 
dent hope,  that  the  coalition  will  terminate  in  a  perfect 
and  indissoluble  union  ;  yet,  if  after  an  experiment  of 
seven  years  coalition,  upon  Visitatorial  principles,  it 
shall  appear  to  the  Board  of  Visitors,  that  the  Visitato- 
rial system  is  either  unsafe  or  inexpedient  ;  the  coali- 
tion may  nevertheless  be  continued  upon  such  other 
principles,  or  system,  as  may  be  then  agreed  on  by  the 
Trustees  and  Visitors  aforesaid,  in  consistency  with  the 
original  design  of  this  our  Foundation  ;  or  the  said 
Visitors  may  withdraw  the  said  Fund,  (the  said  Trus- 
tees however  not  to  be  responsible  for  any  unavoidable 
loss  from  depreciation  of  the  current  medium,  or  from 
the  Providence  of  God,)  as  upon  mature  consideration 
may  to  them  appear  most  conducive  to  the  glory  of 
God.  Or,  if  at  any  time  within  the  said  term  of  seven 
years,  contrary  to  our  most  sanguine  expectation,  the 
said  Visitors  shall  by  the  Trustees  aforesaid  be  denied 
or  deprived  of  the  regular  and  proper  exercise  of  the 
power,  authority,  rights,  or  privileges  in  them  hereby 
vested,  agreeably  to  the  true  meaning  of  these  our  Sta- 
tutes ;  then  the  said  Fund  (saving  any  unavoidable  loss, 
as  above  expressed)  shall  revert  to  the  said  Visitors,  to 
be  appropriated  by  them,  as  they  shall  judge  most  con 


67 

sistent  with  the  original  design  of  this  our  Foundation. 
But,  if  at  the  expiration  of  the  seven  years'  experiment, 
or  within  the  said  term  of  seven  years,  the  Board  of 
Visitors  and  the  Trustees  aforesaid  be  well  satisfied 
with  the  safety  and  expediency  of  the  Visitatorial  sys- 
tem, and  that  a  perpetual  coalition  is  important  and  de- 
sirable ;  Union  shall  be  established  upon  Visitatorial 
principles,  to  continue,  as  the  Sun  and  Moon,  forever. 

Confiding  in  the  prudent  and  faithful  inspection  of 
our  Visitors,  and  in  the  wisdom  and  fidelity  of  the  said 
Trustees  ;  and  with  the  pleasing  hope,  that  they  will 
religiously  appropriate  the  income  of  the  Fund  afore- 
said to  the  great  object  of  this  Foundation,  as  herein 
described,  agreeably  to  the  Statutes  herein  contained  ; 
we  do,  under  God,  cheerfully  commit  this  our  Foun- 
dation to  their  pious  care,  under  the  limitations  before 
mentioned,  trusting  that  no  exertion  on  their  part  will 
be  wanting  to  the  success  of  an  Institution,  so  intimate- 
ly connected  with  the  salvation  of  men  and  the  glory 
of  God. 

To  the  Spirit  of  truth,  to  the  divine  Author  of 
our  faith,  to  the  only  wise  God,  we  desire  in  sincerity 
to  present  this  our  humble  offering,  devoutly  imploring 
the  Father  of  lights  richly  to  endue  with  wisdom 
from  above  all  his  servants,  the  Visitors  of  this  Foun- 
dation and  the  Trustees  of  the  Seminary,  and  with 
spiritual  understanding  the  Professors  therein  ;  that, 
being  illuminated  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  their  doctrine 
may  drop  as  the  rain,  and  that  their  Pupils  may  become 


6S 

trees  of  renown  in  the  Courts  of  our  God,  whereby  Hz 
mav  be  scorified. 

In  witnc  -  -  reof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands 
and  seals  this  twenty  first  day  of  March,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight. 

MOSES  BRO\   X.  (S.) 

WILLIAM  BARTLET,    (S.) 
JOHN  NORMS.  (S.) 

Signed,  scaled,  and  delivered 
in  the  presence  of 

SAMUEL  SPRING, 

JED1DIAE  MORSE. 


* 


. 


^s-j6sisi 


tpm 


ft 


>; 


Si 


2^* 


<2  «? 


*         € 


,18* 


t 


."' 


■ 


** 


--C 


r. 


^1  **?* 


I: 


,<a*r 


.      V 
■ 


"^ 


